OT - Women's World Cup Day 3 - USA v Australia

Submitted by bacon1431 on

The USWNT takes on top 10 ranked Australia in their World Cup opener at 7:30 pm ET. Match will be on FS1, with coverage starting at 6:30. 

The Sweden-Nigeria match just finished. And for those that don't know, Sweden's manager was the USWNT manager in the previous World Cup cycle. Sweden and Nigeria are also in the US' group and it was a very entertaining match. 3-3 final, Sweden looked to be running away with it after a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. But the Nigerian women battled back and tied it up, only to fall behind once again. They equalized in the 87'. Very impressive for the team that is supposed to be the weakest in the group, espeically considering they rarely get to travel outside Africa due to lack of support. They are easily the most entertaining team I've seen in the WWC so far and they'll be tough to top in that department. 

US women will have their work cut out for them in this group and they can't take any match for granted. Things were looking shaky for the women before they won the Algrave Cup and optimism was raised once again. Then they had a poor performance against South Korea in their final WC warmup. 

Hope everyone is enjoying the tournament. It's wide open this year and several teams have a legitimate chance to win it, including the US. 

Also gotta say that FS1 is knocking it out of the park when it comes to in studio coverage. Had an all female panel on Saturday, but the men have started to contribute now. Every match is on TV and most are on FS1 or regular Fox. Credit to the network for putting this together and now I'm much more optimistic about when they cover the men's WC from 2018-2026. 

MGoBoard

MichiganTeacher

June 8th, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^

I only caught the second half, but sheesh, if the first half was even uglier - and it sounds like it was - then this is the sloppiest I've seen the team play at a World Cup in... I think ever.

We got a lot better with possession after Tobin Heath came in. Maybe she should start... and I'm not saying that just because I coached one of her best friends and teammates at North Carolina, I promise. (Sorry, proud coach! not that I really had anything to do with her friend's success, but it's still fun.)

And yeah, until Tobin came in, we were so left-sided it was a joke. Pia and the Nigerian coach are probably like, stuff Rapinoe and game over. So, yeah, lots of work, I think, before Friday.

But we've got a great shot, as good as anyone now, with three points and a +2 differential and the draw in the earlier game. And our depth in a long tournament should help. USA!

Joined: 10/06/2011

MGoPoints: 9263

HarBooYa

June 9th, 2015 at 11:53 AM ^

...and yes, it was ugly. I think it got steadier when Heath came in, in part because of her but In other part because Australia tired and our superior athletes and skill started to come through. Little scary that the start of the first and second looked like it did though. Not great stuff. Hope solo saved that game for us.

Joined: 06/22/2011

MGoPoints: 3168

Zoltanrules

June 9th, 2015 at 10:20 AM ^

No doubt Mia Hamm was the game's best ambassador and used her great speed and unusual finishing ability to score tons of goals on the best team ever. I also think Akers was a better "Phil Esposito monster" in front of the keeper than Wambach, whose rest of game is average. But if I am looking at which player plays most like a professional male and passes the eye test, I come down to midfielders Kristin Lilly and Rapinoe.

They have the complete game: technically superior, see the field well, a field general like Beckenbauer, score big goals, make great defensive plays often on the opponents best player with an intensity and energy unmatched, beautiful assists to the forwards (who get the credit), good in the air, and just making the right passes with the right weight.

Rapinoe reminds me of Gordie Howe and Gretzky who often played entire games without making a single bad pass. Lilly was the same way.

I don't think Rapinoe had her best game yesterday (I think that stupid turf and not playing with each other hurt everyone, especially in the first half) but there were about 10 moments, some subtle, that were just world class plays that no one else could have or did make. At 29 she has a few more years left and her legacy should grow. I think she wil make a case for being the best all around player in the world.

Joined: 08/23/2009

MGoPoints: 21660