OT: Soccer USWNT vs Canada Open Thread, 8PM ET on NBCS
The USWNT faces Canada in Vancouver in the final of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. More for bragging rights and going out with a win, as both teams qualified for London by winning their semifinal matches.
TV: NBCS (fka Versus), 8PM ET
Streams: universalsports.com and concacaf.com
Universalsports.com also has full replays.
Tourney recap:
After knoshing on snacky cakes Dominican Republic (14-0 highlights) and Guatemala (13-0 highlights), the US got some payback against Mexica (4-0 highlights), which had put them into playoffs against Italy to qualify for the last World Cup.
Winning their group put them into the semis against Costa Rica, and facing a London-or-bust game, they looked a bit nervous. It took them till the 16' to score their first goal, and it wasn't until the 72' that they got their second. (3-0 highlights)
Notables: Amy Rodriguez scored five goals as a second-half sub against the Domincan Repbulic, tying the US game record shared by Brandi Chastain, Michelle Akers, Tiffeny Milbrett and Abby Wambach. Then against Guatemala, Sydney Leroux did the same thing. Carli Lloyd got a hat trick against Mexico.
14 goals against the Dominican Republic set the WNT record, and the first goal at 37 sec is probably the fastest in US history.
Unfortunately in that first game, right back Ali Krieger went down with a knee injury after a brutal tackle(torn ACL and MCL). She will likely miss the London Olympics, which starts in six months. Heather Mitts subbed for her in that game. Becky Sauerbrunn got the start the next two, and Kelley O'Hara against Costa Rica.
January 29th, 2012 at 7:42 PM ^
Wait, this is on TONIGHT? Damn it how did I forget to DVR this?
January 29th, 2012 at 7:53 PM ^
Having an open thread about a USA WNT soccer match before a NFL Pro bowl open thread shows how bad the Pro Bowl is.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
Gee, I wonder who gave the downvotes.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^
Gee, I wonder who gave the downvotes.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:11 PM ^
we can't afford major injuries on the back line
January 29th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^
I'm a big fan of Krieger.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^
Alex Morgan!!!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^
Morgan from Wambach!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:19 PM ^
Quite the opposite of Anna Kournikova. She is damn good at her sport and in my own personal opinion, even hotter. She's a brunette so you know Gibbons would agree.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:26 PM ^
I think Morgan and Solo need some more close ups...come on nbc step up.
January 29th, 2012 at 8:29 PM ^
with a takeout save in Canada's first good chance
January 29th, 2012 at 8:34 PM ^
Wambach from Morgan!!!!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:34 PM ^
O' Hara all alone on the left gets one shot blocked, sends rebound skyward
January 29th, 2012 at 8:34 PM ^
Wambach from Morgan!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^
Wambach!!!! 3-0!!!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:39 PM ^
Lloyd rips one off the post, Morgan flips the rebound to Wambach
January 29th, 2012 at 8:53 PM ^
Great save, Solo!!
January 29th, 2012 at 8:54 PM ^
with a save on a 2-on goal break
January 29th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^
USA 3 Canada 0
The U.S.'s 4-4-2 speed alignment has paid big dividends, with Morgan (1 goal) and Wambach (2 goals) able to get behind the Canadian defense and effective creation from Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe in the outside midfield. The defense has looked shaky at times, but Hope Solo has been up to the challenge on a couple of tricky balls and a stone-cold denial of Julien on a break late in the half.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:04 PM ^
This was not the first half that our Canadians had been hoping for...
Canadian team still has some distance to catch the US team before the next Olympics, that much is certain.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:05 PM ^
Somebody's hating.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^
But there appear to be some white knights. I'm happy to serve as one.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^
Morgan almost got to that backpass.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:20 PM ^
still going U.S.'s way early this half
January 29th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^
Morgan is a performer.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^
Morgan on the break, has to turn around to get the goal after keeper challenge.
January 29th, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^
clap clap clapclapclap
How the heck that was onside is beyond me though
January 29th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
A-Run.
January 29th, 2012 at 10:30 PM ^
January 29th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^
leads to quick chance
January 29th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
nice save to deny Cheney
January 29th, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^
Under Pressure is on...seems appropriate for how Canada's felt all night
January 29th, 2012 at 9:58 PM ^
Clean sheet for the tournament!!!
U-S-A! U-S-A!! U-S-A!!!
Alex Morgan got the start and played really well in combination with Abby Wambach. Hope Solo made some big saves (hope her quad heals soon). Megan Rapinoe played well, too.
January 29th, 2012 at 10:00 PM ^
USA 4 Canada 0
Some sweet goals from Wambach and La Caballita (Morgan), defense played much better in the second half, and a clean sheet for Hope.
According to CONCACAF recap, USA won every game by a combined 38-0. Mr. Yost would be proud.
January 29th, 2012 at 10:07 PM ^
To London!