They are exhausted and got a sloppy defense. To beat Japan, give them less set piece opportunities and take the chances.
The U.S. needs to start Becky Sauerbrun instead of either Buehler or LP in this match. The US defense needs composure on the ball and I believe Becky has that. Buehler tends to either kick the ball right in front of her own goal or straight at a defender when under pressure. Rampone needs to stick to the middle and not chase players outside the box leaving us exposed defensively. Cheney has been a real disappointment in this tournament. I felt that with her team leading 10 assists coming into this tournament, she'd be our lead playmaker. If she can't hack it for one half then HAO should replace her, moving Heath to the center. Morgan.........Morgan.......Morgan. I'm counting on her to make something happen early in this game to set the pace. She has always performed well late in tournaments and currently leads the team in both goals (20) and assists (11) this year. A nice assist to Abby or a goal herself would be much appreciated in the first half. Hope Solo will be tested, but hopefully outside the edge of the box where she has a chance to make a play. Japan will play well in this match, so we can't make any defensive mistakes. The US may lose their cool if Japan takes a 1-0 lead.
This Japan team is disciplined, good at passing, and quite precise with the long balls. Just like the team that won the WC. However, there is a big difference: Homare Sawa. She's not the monster she was last year, she's lost a step and has remained secondary in this team. Her short pass distribution is still top notch, but she's not a risk going forward like she used to be. At 33, she's finally slowing down. That should be enough. The USA wins, but it will be tight. 1-0.
Unlike the WC, we finish some good chances. Morgan makes all the difference. Little bit of a limb, but we take it 3-1.
I'm sorry but if it's not Buehler's mistake none of the Japanese goals would happen in last year's final.
Yes! What the hell does it take to get on NBC... oh wait, be a sport that even less American's watch then soccer. Dressage anyone? (Not dissing Dressage, just saying less people watch that then soccer. They show everything but soccer on NBC).
You can get 89-1 odds on that score. I hope that it's less likely that the sun will explode tomorrow. If it does, it was nice knowing all of you.
Japan mostly set good defense and try to catch your mistake or use set pieces. Brazil and France both lost because of this.
I remember it's a corner and Sawa scored with a touch. The first one is also left by Buehler, she couldn't clear the ball in time.
Ugh, a bad memory. Why was a pass going to Krieger right across the goal to begin with? To the goalside of Krieger no less, not to the side where she's facing away from goal. Ugh, ugh, double-ugh. I never could pin that one on Kriegs.