SB Nation Seattle - Women's World Cup 2011: Japan Downs USA In Penalty Shootout

Women's World Cup 2011: US Women's National Team Didn't Choke, Lost In Predictable Fashion

2011-07-19T23:43:09Z

Everywhere I turned after the Women's World Cup Finals, I read the same things about the performance of the US Women's National Team in its loss to Japan. They choked. They surrendered the lead twice and succumbed to the pressure. And because they blew a one-goal lead twice -- once in regulation and a second time late in extra time -- the performance was labeled as a choke while ignoring what truly caused the loss.

It makes me wonder if any of those writing about the Women's World Cup Final had watched this team before. The way the lead was surrendered was all-too-predictable. Winning had masked the flaws of Pia Sundhage's team, but the underlying issues have lingered for quite some time -- beginning well-before the Women's World Cup even began.

For as good as Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and the US attack has been, the defense has been as bad or worse. The back-line is below-average and plays as if it's on skates the majority of the time. The back four has had, and continues to have, a tendency to give up soft goals. Simply put, it leaks goals, no matter the stakes or pressure.

It didn't surprise me to see the two centerbacks combine to botch a clearance that led to Japan's first goal in regulation. It wasn't a surprise to see the offside trap burned ahead of the second goal, which came off Japan's ensuing set piece. And it wasn't a surprise to see Japan score on a set piece, one of the better parts of its game.

To label a performance as a choke-job implies the team succumbed to the pressure of the moment when, in fact, it followed the same script it has in the build-up to, and throughout, the Women's World Cup. The midfield and strikers show flashes of brilliance mixed with moments of pure frustration while coming inches from a flood of goals. The back-line is a constant, and consistently sub-par, giving up goals against the run of play in seemingly routine situations.

We look for explanations when the inexplicable happens. The US women, unlike the men, are a world soccer power, consistently holding a place at or near the top of the FIFA rankings. Every Women's World Cup ahead of the 2011 version had ended in a win, be it in the title game or the still somewhat useless third-place match. And this year's team, we were told, was a team of destiny.

And maybe part of the choke label is the team's own fault. After all, we'd heard Hope Solo say she was bringing home the cup after the USA defeated Brazil in the quarterfinals. We'd been spoiled by the late-heroics in the knockout round that included edge-of-elimination goals at an unsustainable rate. We'd been blinded by luck and wins.

Those wins allowed us to forget what happened in the US team's final group stage match against Sweden. The back-line gave up two horrendous goals and the USA probably should've lost by a much larger margin than the 2-1 scoreline would indicate. The defense surrendered a penalty kick and a free kick in a dangerous area, both of which resulted in goals. Sweden dominated the run of play and was erroneously called offside more than once, denying clear goal-scoring opportunities. The flaws of the USA were on display throughout the match, right there for anyone who was watching to see.

When discussing the US Women's National Team with Aaron Campeau, we came to the same conclusion about its construction and limitations. The problems that plague it are not unlike those that have plagued the men's side. The midfield is dynamic, the strikers can be quite good, but the back line is downright horrendous. Oh, and there's that goalkeeper thing: Both teams boast a top-flight keeper that's considered one of the best in the world.

Until US Soccer develops competent defenders, it will continue to face its limitations. A team can only attack so much before being hit on a counter and seeing its porous defense exploited. With fullbacks that struggle both in defense and capably getting forward, and centerbacks that are inconsistent, often struggling to mark strikers out of the game, the USA played on a thin edge in the Women's World Cup, and will continue to do so.

The problem stretches far deeper than simply stating the team choked and moving on. Doing so would be a disservice to any meaningful analysis, and ignores the real issues at play. After all, the choke label serves as an easy scapegoat; Choking is temporary, the flaws of the US National Teams have the potential to limit both for years to come.

Japan is a quality team that deserves credit for exploiting the flaws of the US Women's National Team. While the USA may have dominated the run of play and created numerous chances, Japan took advantage of the most glaring weakness US had. They waited, absorbed the attack and countered with brilliant through-balls that exploited the back-line of the USA. It paid-off with dangerous chances, eventually forcing a shootout. By placing the blame on the USA and ignoring the play of Japan, it does a severe disservice to them, as well.

It wasn't a choke that the USA surrendered the lead twice late in the Women's World Cup Final and lost in the crap-shoot that is a penalty shootout. In fact, it was the US Women's National Team in a nutshell.

Hope Solo To Appear On This Week's Sports Illustrated Cover: "Heart And Heartbreak"

2011-07-19T17:59:00Z

Regardless of the outcome of the Women’s World Cup Final, US Women’s National Team goalie Hope Solo was bound to garner some individual spotlight.

She took home the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s top goalie, finished third in MVP voting for the tournament, and has already been making the TV talk show rounds.

Now we can add a Sports Illustrated cover appearance to that list.

Solo is the first women’s soccer player to appear on a SI cover since Mia Hamm on the September 22, 2003 issue. However, for those wondering what the USWNT will do for the growth of women’s sports at-large, this cover might hold additional significance: over its first 60 years of existence, women had only graced the cover of four percent of SI’s covers according to Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi.

Explaining the selection of this week’s cover photo, Time Inc. Sports Group editor Terry McDonell says: "The U.S. had just lost one of the greatest games ever played, and the emotions of that are complicated. And it’s reflected in the cover shot of Hope Solo, a nuanced mix of sadness and courage. She is looking back, thinking what might have been, but she is also looking to the future."

Women's World Cup Final, USA Vs. Japan Score: Japan Takes Title With Penalty Shootout Win

2011-07-17T21:23:13Z

With the way the 2011 Women's World Cup had been going for the US Women's National Team, you almost expected the final match of the tournament to come down to the wire. After Alex Morgan put the USA up in the second half with a wonderfully struck goal, it looked like the US, who had been dominating the run of play, would finally survive a game without needing a late hero. But Japan answered, striking a goal of their own while taking advantage of a US miscue to tie the game and force extra time.

As the 30 minutes of extra time began, the USA and Japan appeared tight, both on the edge while worried about conceding an early goal. But just before the whistle to signal the half, Morgan broke free on the left flank, made a run to the byline and whipped a cross into the six-yard-box. As she's been all tournament long, Abby Wambach was there, ready to put a head to the incoming ball. And with that, the USA had the lead as Wambach's powerful header slammed into the back of the net.

All the USA had to do was protect in the second half of extra time to bring home a third Women's World Cup. The shaky back-line of the USA created some drama of their own throughout the final 15 minutes. A failed clearance in the box left Solo out of position early, and Japan nearly equalized. Somehow, the USA was able to side-step a dangerous chance, but the tense moments weren't over.

Another excellent through-ball in the 115th minute caught Hope Solo off her line, leaving Kinga with an open net after she'd chipped the America keeper. Christine Rampone was there to save the day, however, clearing the bouncing ball off the line and preventing the equalizing goal. But on the ensuing corner, Japan found the back of the net as Homare Sawa threaded the needle for the game-tying goal. Her late equalizer forced a penalty shootout, putting Hope Solo in the spotlight once again. It was 1999, and the team Solo has been trying to get out of the shadow of, all over again.

Shannon Boxx stepped up first, went right and saw her shot just barely tipped away by the foot of Kaihori. Solo guess wrong on Miyama's strike, and the US was at a disadvantage down 1-0. Carli Lloyd was next, and skied her penalty kick over the bar, putting the USA on life-support in the shootout. But Solo kept them alive, parrying the next shot away after diving to her right.

With Japan up 1-0, Tobin Heath stepped up with a chance to finally get on the board, but also saw her shot sent away. The penalty shootout start for the USA was simply disastrous. Solo got a hand on the next kick, only to see it trickle through to give Japan a 2-0 lead.

Abby Wambach kept the USA alive with the first goal in the shootout, but all Japan needed was one more. Sake Kumagai stepped up against Solo, went high and finished the USA's dream run.

The Women's World Cup Final was superb, but ended in heartbreak for Solo and the USA as Japan took the title in a penalty shootout, 2-2 (3-1).

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.

USA Vs. Japan Score: Penalty Shootout On The Horizon As Japan Equalizes

2011-07-17T21:12:44Z

If nothing else, the 2011 Women's World Cup Final has been drama-filled. Abby Wambach put the US in front at the end of the first half of extra time, but Japan kept pushing, looking for the equalizing goal in the final 15 minutes. After Christine Rampone cleared a dangerous ball off the line and out of bounds for a corner, Hope Solo stayed down for a moment, taking a knock to her knee. It was a tense moment, and the Japan corner just seemed feel dangerous.

A low, swinging ball in from the corner found Sawa, who somehow threaded the needed past the defense and Solo for the equalizer. The USA was stunned with just minutes to go and a penalty shootout on the horizon.

Alex Morgan got behind the defense just a few minutes later, just before the second half of extra time began to create another dangerous chance. Morgan was hauled-fown on the edge of the box, setting up a dangerous free kick. In addition to the free kick, Japan was given a red card, losing a central defender for the final minute of extra time and the penalty shootout.

The free kick was off the mark, but went out for a goal kick, denying the USA its best chance to avoid a shootout. It's all down to Hope Solo again as the USA and Japan head to penalty kicks tied at two.

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.

USA Vs. Japan Score, Women's World Cup Final Live Coverage: Abby Wambach Goal Puts USA Up

2011-07-17T20:55:07Z

Abby Wambach had a significant advantage throughout the 2011 Women's World Cup and has been a terror during the finals against Japan. And finally, in extra time, Wambach came through, coming up with even more heroics to put the USA on top, 2-1. It was Wambach on the end of a cross just inside the six-yard-box, putting a head to it and hammering it into the back of the net. With the way her Women's World Cup has been going, it was only fitting.

And who was it that sent the cross in, setting up Wambach perfectly? None other than Alex Morgan, the first goal-scorer and super-sub for Pia Sundhage's team. Morgan broke free on the left, made it to the by-line and found Wambach in just an inch of space. Wambach did the rest, leaving Japan's keeper no chance to make a stop.

With just 15 minutes to go in extra time, the USA leads Japan, 2-1, thanks to Wambach's superb header. The USA just has to hold-on to prevent a penalty shootout and to win its third World Cup.

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.

USA Vs. Japan Score, Women's World Cup Live: Hope Solo Concedes Goal After Defensive Miscue

2011-07-17T20:26:42Z

After the jubilation of Alex Morgan's second half goal, the USA has been brought back down to Earth, and it was a defensive miscue that left Hope Solo in an impossible position. Rachel Buehler was unable to clear a cross as she fell down in the box, leaving a mess in front of the net as the US and Japan battled for the loose ball. It was Japan, however, that was in the right place at the right time, beating Solo to the net to level the score at one goal apiece.

Suddenly, we're back to an even game, and all it took was a shaky play in defense. The US back-line has been hit-or-miss throughout the Women's World Cup, and the Japan goal was just another example of it. Though the American side has dominated the run of play throughout, narrowly missing numerous times, we're back to level on a counter.

With just a few minutes to go in the second half, the USA and Japan are tied, 1-1. If the game is still level after regulation, we'll head to 30 minutes of extra time. If it's still level, it will be a penalty shootout again for the USA.

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.

Alex Morgan Goal Inspires Young WSU Fan To Flash The Camera

2011-07-17T20:21:21Z

What's the best way to celebrate an amazing goal at soccer's highest level? For one young fan in the stands, it meant waiting until the camera was pointed squarely at him, lifting up his Washington State Cougars shirt and flashing the camera. After Alex Morgan buried a goal to put the USA in front of Japan, the ESPN cameras panned to the crowd, looking for that priceless reaction shot as fans celebrated with utter jubilation. Little did they know, this young WSU fan was waiting for his moment.

Here's an animated gif of the young man, lifting up his WSU shirt to give the camera a flash. Call it a truffle shuffle, call it the happy dance or call it whatever you want: It was awesome.

via Ben Golliver, who has been all over the gifs during the Women's World Cup Final. Follow him on Twitter for much, much more.

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.

Women's World Cup Live, USA Vs. Japan Score: Alex Morgan Goal Puts US In Front

2011-07-17T20:13:39Z

Alex Morgan is the fastest player on the US Women's National Team, and has used her speed throughout the Women's World Cup to harass defenses and force mistakes. And after 67 scoreless minutes, it was Alex Morgan coming up big yet again, finally breaking through and putting the USA in front, 1-0. She used her speed, got behind the defense on a lovely through ball, then finished with clinical efficiency, beating the keeper far post to put the USA on front.

It was a deserved goal for Morgan, who just minutes before was robbed of another wonderful goal as she hit the near post. Morgan's been a revelation throughout the Women's World Cup, and continues her superb play. And it could be the youngest member of the US Women's National Team that plays the role of hero in the Women's World Cup Final.

After 70 minutes in the Women's World Cup Final, the US women have the goal they've so deserved after creating numerous dangerous chances throughout. What a moment for Morgan, who came on as a sub at the half for the injured Lauren Cheney. As of now, it's the USA 1 and Japan 0 with 20 minutes to play.

For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.