Combo Post

A few things are going on in the Women's Soccer World. Why not combine them all in one post?


Hey everyone, just wanted to get some stuff out in writing. There's a few things I'd like to mention.


WPS Expansion- As most of you probably already know, the WPS is expanding to 8 teams for the 2011 season. The addition of the Buffalo Flash will make the team count an even 8. The New York based team just won the W-League title, and is becoming a WPS franchise for 2011. This is some pretty awesome news. It was a shame to lose the LA Sol in last year's off-season, so its excellent news to be having a progressive way to go into the off-season. It was also a shame to lose St.Louis Athletica right in the middle of the season. Hopefully we never have to experience losing a team again. Let's make the only way to move in this league be forward, not backwards. Here's to the Buffalo Flash, and plenty other expansion teams to come!


Oceania Qualifiers- The OFC qualifying has been underway, and some more games in the group stage have been played. In Group A action, New Zealand thrashed the Cook Islands 10-0, and Tahiti beat Vanuatu 5-1. In Group B, Papua New Guinea beat the Solomon Islands 2-1, and Tonga beat Fiji 2-1. New Zealand is atop Group A with 6 points, and Papua New Guinea is atop Group B with 6 points. There will be 2 more matches played tomorrow to finish up Group A. Group B's last matches will take place on the 4th. Then its onto the Semifinals. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say New Zealand will make it to the Semifinals. They've been mercilessly destroying every team they come up against. I'm glad I'm not on one of those teams that suffered at the hands of the Kiwis. It has to be pretty embarrassing to lose 14 or 10 nothing.


UEFA (Europe) Women's 5th Spot Play-offs- 4 teams in Europe have already qualified for the Women's World Cup, but the losers of those play-off matches still have hopes to get in. The losers will have to play-off against other losers for the 5th spot in the UEFA region. The team who gets through the 2 rounds of play-offs to reach the 5th spot will get the chance to play against the 3rd place in the CONCACAF (North and Central America + Caribbean) for the final spot in the Women's World Cup. The first leg in the first play-off round was today. Italy beat Ukraine 3-0 in the first leg. The second leg is going to be on the 6th. Tomorrow, Denmark will face off against Switzerland in their first leg.


A lot of important matches coming up. Tomorrow, which is Sunday the 3rd, Oceania qualifying continues, and Denmark plays Switzerland in the first leg of their first round play-off matches. On Wednesday, the 6th, the USWNT will face off against China PR in their 2nd match of their doubleheader. It will be their last international game before they head to Mexico for the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which will serve as their qualifying competition for the 2011 Women's World Cup. That will be taking place from October 28th to November 8th. Also on Wednesday is the 2nd leg of Italy and Ukraine's first round play-off campaign. On Thursday the 7th, Denmark and Switzerland will face off in the 2nd leg of their first round play-off match-up. By the 7th, we'll know what 2 UEFA teams will be facing off in the 2nd round of play-offs for the 5th regional spot.


That's all for now everyone! Be sure to stay updated! Or, you could always come here, which I of course think is a much better idea. You can have a little humor go with your cold hard facts here!

See you again very soon!

Denise