The pit that settled in my stomach after Norway's goal in the second minute of Wednesday's clash dissipated in the opening moments of the USWNT's contest with Japan this morning. The U.S. came out fired up, yet composed, pinging the ball around the field nicely and putting Japan immediately on their heels. This was a team I recognized, unlike the one that took the field on Wednesday.
The midfield looked much stronger today and the team did a good job of getting the ball out wide to Heather O'Reilly and Lindsay Tarpley. It was another strong outing for O'Reilly, who was singled out for kudos, along with first time Olympic starter Amy Rodriguez, by coach Pia Sundhage.
"I am very happy about our performance today against a very technical, talented Japan team," said Sundhage. "Besides a great goal by Carli Lloyd, I am very happy about our tactics with a fast player up top, Amy Rodriguez, and the way Heather O'Reilly played on the right side. But the bottom line is that the team that won today."
Rodriguez will need to do a better job of finishing her chances going forward, but her combination of speed and savvy made for an overall impressive performance up top and I expect we will see more of her as a starter.
The match's only goal was a nice team effort. Tarpley won the ball and played Stephanie Lopez in. Lopez did well to run the ball down at the end line and get the cross off. For a split second it appeared that her effort was wasted as the ball sailed just over the head of Rodriguez. It skipped to the top of the box where Carli Lloyd cracked her half volley into the back of the net.
“It happened so quickly. It kind of came off of a cross, " said Lloyd. "Amy Rodriguez tried to go for it and it came over her head and my eyes lit up. I was at the top of the box and just made sure I hit a nice smooth stroke.”
The team defended well and Hope Solo came up with a couple of big saves to preserve the 1-0 result. The backline was active on offense as well. Christie Rampone had a chance early, Heather Mitts had two, and of course, Lopez notched the assist on Lloyd's goal.
It wasn't a perfect outing. There were too many long balls sent directly to Japan, Lopez and Mitts being early perpetrators. And, the U.S. should have finished more of the sweet chances they created. Still, it was a night and day performance from the Norway disaster and a good first step towards peaking during the knock out round.
If I were cutting the highlight video of this match besides the obvious goal, these are some moments I would be sure to include:
- Kate Markgraf pulling off a bicycle kick in an attempt to keep the ball in play on our attacking end.
- Hope Solo tipping Homare Sawa's shot just over the net for an awesome save.
- Heather Mitts' almost goal, well, both of them.
- In about the 80th minute, O'Reilly made a nice run, played a beautiful ball through to Rodriguez who shook off her defender. The shot was wide, but still the sequence is definitely highlight worthy.
- Christie Rampone could have her own highlight reel as she put on a master class in defending in the last 15 minutes of the match - snuffing out attacks, defending corners and generally making good decisions on when to possess and when to just clear it.
In closing I will say after shuffling through the match again to dig out some of my match highlights I'm even more impressed with Rodriguez than I was at first glance.
Heather Mitts, who is still rehabbing from an ACL injury, has been busy at the NSCAA Convention signing autographs for Under Armour and Women’s Professional Soccer. She took a short break to catch up with Fair Game readers.
Give us an update on the injury. You were in the mini-camp in December. Did you do any contact drills then?
I wasn’t supposed to, but I did. It’s so hard not to when you get out there. That’s the thing that I talked about with Pia. I’m not ready for China because I’m not ready to go out there and be 100%, so we thought maybe February coming into camp which I’m going to do on the 1st and hopefully make the Algarve Cup, without the brace, being 100% and going forward from there.
How are you feeling now?
Great. I’m in Philly right now doing double days. It feels like it did before, Now I know it’s just a matter of me getting out there and getting used to playing with the new players and the old players and getting game fit again.
Have you been following the Four Nations Tournament?
As well as I can. It’s hard when you’re not over there, but I know they’ve won both their games so far. Pia is going to do a great job. I know the players, I’ve talked to a lot of them, are really excited about going forward and obviously the Olympics.
What were your impressions of Pia from the four-day camp in December?
Luckily for me, she was my coach in Philly, so I knew her a little bit before hand. It was so much fun because I knew what to expect and it’s the same old Pia. It’s a completely different philosophy and I think it will be great for this US team to be able to go out there with a new coach and play a new style of soccer.
You’re here signing autographs at the Women’s Professional Soccer booth. What do you think now that it’s really official?
I’m so excited that it’s coming back. We need it. Not only for those kids looking forward to coming out of college and playing and little girls growing up, but also the fact that it’s going to help our Women’s National Team with the pool. We saw that when it went away, we didn’t have as many players that were training single everyday. I think it’s so important to the growth of women’s soccer here in the states.
The WUSA was critical to your development as a player.
I wouldn’t have been on the National Team if it weren’t for the league. It’s just so important for so many of those girls coming out of college that don’t have the means to be able to play every single day with the Women’s National Team. I’ve gotten so lucky from it and I know Shannon Boxx and Abby Wambach are the same story. You look at them and they are two of the best players on the team. It was detrimental not to have a league and I know we are all looking forward to it being back.
Add comment