The player’s aren’t the only ones exhausted after a grueling 2-1-overtime victory for the United States over Canada in their Olympic Quarterfinal. Those of us who saw it through from the 6:00 am kickoff, the weather delay, full time and two overtimes, four plus hours worth in all, deserve at least a nap. That includes U.S. coach, Pia Sundhage.
“I feel like I am a player. I am exhausted and happy,” she said.
The match started on time in a heavy downpour reminiscent of the United State’s World Cup match against Nigeria in the middle of Typhoon Wipha. The match was halted in the 21st minute due to lightening, but not before Angela Hucles got the U.S. on the board in the 12th minute.
The break was fortuitous for the Canadians. The U.S. clearly had them on their heels and were playing some of the best soccer we’ve seen from them all tournament. The 139-minute stoppage killed the American’s momentum and allowed Canada time to regroup after a shaky start.
Canada didn’t waste any time after the match resumed. Christine Sinclair capitalized on a casual U.S. throw in, launching a rocket past an outstretched Hope Solo in the 30th minute.
Canada’s coach, Even Pellerud was forced to make an early sub, replacing goalkeeper Erin McLeod with Karina LeBlanc after McLeod was injured attempting to defend Hucles’ goal. LeBlanc played an outstanding match and kept Canada in it into the first overtime when Natasha Kai connected with a beautiful ball from Shannon Boxx for the game-winning header in the 102nd minute.
In what in hindsight appears to be a brilliant move, Sundhage waited until the beginning of the first overtime to sub Kai in for Amy Rodriguez. A fresh Kai was able to run circles around a clearly gassed Canadian side.
“I thought we did well at forward with A-Rod because of her speed and with Angela Hucles,” explained Sundhage. “We switched Carli Lloyd to a more attacking role in hopes that she would get some more shots. With all due respect for Canada, which is a good team, we were thinking about extra time and that 30 minutes. We got 30 minutes out of Tash so I thought that was good timing.”
The U.S. could have managed the waning minutes better. Instead of settling for possession and killing time, they pressed for a third goal, which made the last few minutes a bit nerve wracking for the fans.
The match marked an outstanding effort by U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx, who was justly named Sierra Mist Player of the Match. Boxx also happened to be celebrating her 100th cap. Lori Chalupny was dangerous and never gave up on any ball despite taking quite a beating from Kara Lang and company. Christie Rampone and Kate Markgraf held the U.S. backline together well to contain Canada. Really, the match was a great team effort.
The U.S. enters their semi-final with Japan spreading the goals around. Angela Hucles is the leading scorer with two.
“The cool thing about this Olympics so far is that we’ve had so many different goal scorers,” said Heather O’Reilly after the match. “I think that is what’s making us special right now. We’ve had six different goal scorers for seven goals, so that’s a pretty cool stat and that’s what’s making us so unpredictable.”
The U.S. has managed this tournament well, getting better every match, a trend they hope continues through to the gold medal.
* Photo of U.S. goal scorer, Angela Hucles, by Brad Smith/isiphotos.com
Greetings from Albufeira, Portugal. I arrived last night, just in time to catch a decent nights sleep and hit the U.S. match with China.
This was my first time to see the team play since the Pia era began, unless you count the teeny video stream from the Four Nations Tournament in China. They looked good – definitely different – but really good.
Possession was the name of the game and they played it well. One touch passes ping-ponged around the pitch, starting at the back and working their way through the midfield to the forwards. There was the occasional long ball thrown in, just to keep China guessing, but the U.S. dominated the match exploring the angles of the pitch with short passing.
After the game, Abby Wambach was pleased with the team’s performance.
“The first half of that game is one of the best halves we’ve played in a long time, not even these past four games, but the past couples years. Things are starting to feel right, where it’s not a struggle. We’re learning how to play the game in angles, “ she said.
Of course, China didn’t put up much of a fight. They were content to stay packed in for most of the match, I can only assume in hopes of breakaway chances, which were few and far between and for which they seemed ill equipped to take advantage of. If China’s new coach, Elizabeth Loisel was looking to use this tournament to get a Chinese Federation that already seems disenchanted with her off her back, she didn’t get off to a good start.
The back line has undergone a bit of a makeover, at least for this match. Kate Markgraf was back in the center in her first match since the World Cup. Captain Christie Rampone joined her there with Lori Chalupny at left back and newcomer Rachel Buehler on the right. Buehler put in a more than solid performance in her first cap, which lasted a full 90.
Shannon Boxx and Carli Lloyd were both outstanding today in the midfield and earned a nod from head coach Pia Sundhage who called their play “tremendous”.
Lindsay Tarpley added another goal to her already impressive tally for 2008 to get her team off to a good start. That was it for the first half. Tobin Heath, who subbed in for Tarpley at half time, recorded her first full international goal just minutes into the 2nd half. Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd rounded out the scoring giving the U.S. their biggest win against China, ever.
That’s it for tonight. I’m going to post some pictures in the Photo Gallery before I get kicked out of the internet cafe which is already closed! I will report in tomorrow after practice.
View comments (1)