EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) The quarterfinals at the Women’s World Cup are set.
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Friday: A quarterfinal match will be held.
Not only did the victory over Colombia do well on FS1, but it did well on the Fox Sports Go app, with over 120,000 unique streams, more than any other event in the app’s history, including Game 7 of the World Series. It thumped Sweden, 4-1, in its Round of 16 game. “I’ll take 2-0 any day”. One of those came Tuesday night when Japan defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the round of 16. “I don’t know if it was just a psychological thing, who knows?” Going into the match, Colombian players had combined for 82 global goals.
As mentioned, a big part of that have been Wambach’s disappointing performances, which she has at times blamed on the fact that the Cup is being played on turf-a disappointing problem indeed, for which it’s impossible not to impute sexism by Federation Internationale de Football Association, but one that the better players at this tournament have managed without complaint.
Twelve minutes later, Lloyd connected on a second United States penalty kick attempt.
The game turned the Americans’ way shortly after half-time when Alex Morgan was brought down just inside the area by Perez, who was then sent off. Colombia’s Catalina Perez was alert however and leaned to her left to barely keep the ball out of the net with her palm. Time and again they try to put a ball onto Wambach’s head rather than exchanging passes and opening space.
Morgan finally broke through after 53 minutes with Lloyd getting a second 13 minutes later from a penalty after Megan Rapinoe was fouled inside the box by defender Angela Clavijo.
Wambach has probably been called clutch thousands of times by people over her career. “I have upmost (sic) confidence in the players we have”. She was closely marked and unable to get off any headers, generally having little effect on the proceedings.
Next on the Schedule: The WNT will meet China PR on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, Canada.
The US might still win the World Cup.
It’s a phrase that Australia coach Alen Stajcic coined after dropping the opener to the United States, a game that Australia deserved better from but Rapinoe ultimately took grip of. Julie Foudy also chimed in, tweeting her displeasure with the on-field strategy.
Carli Lloyd earned her 199th cap today and could hit the 200 mark if she plays during the Quarterfinal match against China PR on June 26.
But it’s the USA offense that has driven Akers’ comments, among others.
There’s a lot of pride to play on China’s side.
While many expected Wambach to be an impact substitute in her final World Cup, she has started three of her team’s four games so far. Canadian striker Christine Sinclair made comments about the officiating following her team’s loss to the United States at the London Olympics and she was later suspended for four matches for unsportsmanlike behavior. The speedy 25-year-old made her second straight start on Monday against Colombia and scored her first goal of the tournament.
Midfielder Tobin Heath – 5: She was denied an early goal by a quality save.
If you listened to ex- coach Tony DiCicco during Monday night’s broadcast or follow literally anyone who regularly tweets about this team on Twitter, you’ve heard the cries for a 4-3-3.
“This is the World Cup”. If these teams ever meet, it’ll surely make for a terrific finals showdown between the tournament’s two most impressive squads.
SoccerTimes U.S. Player of the Match: Alex Morgan.
In its last 14 games, the USA has surrendered just three goals and has scored 26.
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As the US advance along in the 2015 World Cup, Fox will hope the ratings increase to somewhere near half that number. Both Rapinoe and Holiday were given yellow cards during the match and will have to sit out during the quarterfinal match.
