Wake-Up Call

Not the best of games for the USWNT. They're going to have to work on a couple of things after their 1-1 tie to China PR.


Yesterday, the USWNT faced off against China PR in the second and final match of their doubleheader. As I sat on my couch, all excited to be seeing the USA play on TV, I never once thought that I'd be getting anxious about losing. Turns out, I was quite wrong. The game started up, and as in any soccer game, the first few minutes are kind of a settle down period, you can relax your nerves, settle down, and get into a rhythm. However, the USA's settle down period never quite came, until the very end of the match. For the entire first half, the USA looked unorganized, and was playing the polar opposite of how they usually do. Usually, they play accurate and precise, sometimes quick passing sequences that open up space, but yesterday, their passes were inaccurate, sloppy, and a lot of turn-overs resulted. The USA had a very hard time adjusting to a good attacking rhythm, and they had a hard time keeping the ball at midfield. I could tell right away that the team I was watching wasn't the typical USWNT. China took advantage of this, and ended up scoring late in the first half, off a cross from the left. The defense tried to get it out, but Ma Jun found the ball and volleyed it right over Barnhart. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen the USWNT go down a goal, or lose a game since I've been following (about 2 or 3 years now) and I thought "The USWNT? Losing a game? That's impossible, that just doesn't happen! The only way that would happen is if it were the Apocalypse or something." But, it started to seem like it was a possibility, although I never thought it was definitely going to happen. It wasn't a fluke, like the USA was really the better team and China just got a lucky goal, because that wasn't true. The truth was that the USA was losing, and no one cheated for it to be that way either. They were legitimately losing, and it showed that they aren't invincible to going down a goal, and they aren't invincible to poor performances. It happens even to the best. But, I knew that the USWNT would come back. They always find a way. And, they found their way in the 2nd half. The 2nd half was like the first, however, china began to play very defensively, while the USA was pushing on attack. China's only offensive efforts came off of failed counter-attacks. Sundhage put in Tarpley and Lilly at half-time, and while they did add an extra spark, the USA would not get their chance until the 71st when Sundhage sent Alex Morgan and Yael Averbuch into the match. Averbuch did a great job in the midfield and helped to change the game around. Alex Morgan was a huge breath of fresh air, since A-Rod was struggling as usual in the USWNT jersey, bombing a lot of her shots on goal throughout the match. Cheney also made her way into the game at some point, but I forget when! Morgan was just what the doctor ordered, and the 21 year old got her first goal as a WNT player in the 83rd minute. Abby Wambach headed the ball back for Morgan in the 18, and about 9 yards out on the right side, she unleashed a powerful shot with her left foot that just sailed into the upper left side of the net. Wambach got credited with the assist, while Morgan scored her first ever USWNT goal (Its pretty funny though actually. I guess it was destined to happen that way. Anyone remember the Germany game back on May 22nd? In stoppage time, Wambach and Morgan were 2 v 1 against Angerer. Wambach passed it to Morgan, who stuffed it into the net. That goal, which was going to be her first for the WNT, was called offsides, even though it wasn't. But, Wambach ended up assisting Morgan's first ever goal anyways, against China PR. That kind of makes up for the bad call in the Germany game. I guess that just goes to show, if something is meant to be, its going to happen eventually! I have a feeling we're going to be seeing the Morgan-Wambach combination a lot more often). And, I thought we were going to win the damn game too. The referee announced 4 minutes of stoppage time, and the USA had momentum in their favor. They attacked like they wanted to win. At some point, Cheney released a through ball to Morgan who was in space, but the pass went a little too close to the China GK, who cleared it out. But, in about the 4th minute of stoppage time, Morgan was about 6 yards out, and was involved in a huge scramble in front of China's goal. I thought for sure she would get her 2nd and we would win the match. But, there were too many defenders and the angle would have created a poor shot, so it was cleared out before Morgan could find any room to breathe. I almost thought we had it though, I was up off my couch with my face practically on top of the TV screen. But, we tied, and I'll take that over a loss any day. Have to say though, if Morgan got that 2nd goal to win the game for us in stoppage time, I'd be willing to bet she'd have a monument erected in her honor! In all seriousness though, we started looking like the good old USWNT towards the last 10 or 15 minutes. Otherwise, we had a sloppy and poor game. Congratulations to Morgan though, for getting her first ever goal! And nice assist, Wambach. That striker combination is going to be promising. The subs who came in did a good job of helping turn the game around. This game though, as I like to call it, is a wake-up call. The USA is an amazing team, and I truly believe they are the best, but that doesn't mean they're invincible from losses. This is soccer, and anything can happen. I think they need to work on sharpening up their passing, and they have to work on staying calm and developing a good attacking rhythm. Like I said, we didn't see the USWNT out there. They just have to work on getting their rhythm back, keeping possession (and not making turn overs) and getting back that precise and deadly passing. This is important for them to work on, especially since Women's World Cup qualifying awaits them in Mexico. I think this match was just a little wake-up call, and nothing more, showing them that if they get too complacent, or don't work on their weaknesses enough, they will pay for it. I'm confident that the USA will tweak whatever they need to, and I'm sure they'll be back on form in no time. Look forward to seeing the USWNT back again.

The USWNT is going to be training in Philly until Saturday. After that, Sundhage will announce the players who will be heading to Mexico for the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup. The players on the roster will get one week off, and will then depart for Mexico on October 19th.


The Women's Gold Cup will take place from October 28th-November 8th. I'm hoping they put the games on TV, but I have a bad feeling that's not going to happen. To all the broadcasters out there, if you can't at least air the group stage games, then can you at least air the Semifinal and Final? Really, they should be televising the whole damn thing. The scarce broadcasting in women's soccer is freakin' ridiculous. But, if we can't watch it on TV, then it looks like its back to the good old match tracker: a women's soccer fan's best friend. But, I'm not complaining, because I'll support the USWNT in any way possible. I'll be sure to keep up on the Gold Cup, TV or no TV. You can be sure of that.

That's all for now everyone! I'll be back tomorrow, or on Saturday to report the results of the OFC. Also, on Sunday, Sundhage will release her roster of players that are going to Mexico, so we'll talk about that.


See you again soon,

Denise