A constant down pour has left the field with pools of water, the ball is not rolling but stopping. The prize of wining here is Brazil, congrats.
Canada with a number of early balls in the area win a corner. Rodman outruns a ball, stopped in the water. Morgan in on goal, gets swamped. A ball played in by Canada shot, easily handled by Naeher. A miscalculation due to the field conditions has a ball back to the GK slowed and Shaw makes no mistake in sending it home, beyond the sliding GK. A corner by Canada is on target sent on the goal, blocked then they win a throw, 20 yards out,. A lofted throw in by the USA goes from the neutral zone over the endline. Next goal kick has the US with a throw well over half field. Rodman has solved her water issue, dribble the ball further in front of yourself. Horan gets ridden off a ball goes sliding for a few yards in the Canada area. The touch and passes of each player is so off now it is absurd. Rodman shows her speed getting back even in what must be very heavy footwear. Coffey with a corner, played on by Rodman and it is tipped over the endline, she takes one from the other side, finds Horan but she sends her header right at Sheridan. Davidson has a shot off her torso and the ball is all over the place. Just into their offensive half, the US has a throw with less than 5’ to go. Morgan frustrated with how the ball bounces does not get back in time, Coffey plays it to her, all she can do is jog back onside. 2’ of extra time neither team wants.
When the story of the first half, the biggest impact has been made by the rain, it is not a good thing. As the rain lessens let’s hope the field begins to drain, I do hope it does not lead to any injuries. Do you bother to put your shoes on a dryer or to change them? Whoever does in fact figure out the best way to deal with these extreme conditions may very well win the game. A mental error is the difference right now, the same one as has been made on many passes but not in the area have happened throughout this first half. Canada needs to keep pressing, they will get chances if they keep playing as they are, an error or weather issue may come to benefit them as well. Rollers such as are used on tennis courts are being deployed here to rid the field of water, a quick shot of it shows one just moving the water along the field and being absorbed elsewhere.
Williams and Kruger on Shaw & Nighswonger are off, as I cover Gotham, I am ok with her being off, averting injury. There is far less pooling on the field now, still a bit and far less splashing as the players run. At the half the referees were adjusting their comms, and again now. Trying to bring down a ball, Davidson might have given up a great chance on goal, just clear it in this water. She had Fleming speeding in, she may have gotten a toe on it at the top of the area a big no no. This time, the GK is well out of position, it goes wide, Rodman tracks I down, into the top of the 6 for Horan, her headed ball is wide. Williams gets wide, tracks down the ball centers it and it’s sent out by a defender. US wins a corner at 56’, Canada subs. Rodman with her speed is such a weapon, gets to the ball looks back post for Williams, but it goes out of play for a goal kick. Sheridan is down in the Canada goal. Smith readies to enter for the US. Rodman gives way for Smith. A corner for Canada goes to the corner played in then out by the US for a throw, another Canada throw, and another well inside the area. A ball in cleared a bit, sent in again Naeher steps up to gather it in and sends it away. Canada send in Viens and Quinn at 68’. Another corner for Canada, players down all over the box, another throw in for Canada, Carle on the ball. Headed on partially cleared, recovered by Canada. Fleming fouled and will take the kick it seems, her or Leon as both are there, Leon just beyond the head of her mark and out for a goal kick. Lavelle is in as Morgan hears thunderous applause as she leaves the field at 72’. Coffey into the 6, Sheridan goes up, comes down with it. A ball over the top even with 2 defenders, Davidson sends it out for a throw in, they get it right back for a throw. Great play by Canada and they get a headed goal at 82’ they handled the watery field better, a ball over the top, US out runs it, leaves one open a bit wide back in goal. The bigger issue was the open player outside but the water did have an impact on the ball that was first inside. Sonnett in for Coffey at 85’. High pressure now from the USA, will it create a goal in 3’? Sonnett seeks Horan it’s knocked away. Corner for Lavelle and US, she goes near post it’s hanging in the air cleared, then back in again, there will be injury time from Sheridan being down. 6’ of extra time plenty for both to get something going, who wants it more? Kruger turns back a ball at the top of the area. Quinn twisting and turning. Cleared into the back of a defender who then sends Fox flying as she leaves her feet to challenge a ball on the ground, carded for her efforts. Lavelle turns on the burners but has it cleared out, goal kick. Naeher off her line to a knee to clear one that came through under mild pressure. A last minute corner as US could not curve it enough for a throw. Leon takes it, goes into the 6, Naeher is up boxes it up recovered by Canada, they lose it now its sent in again at the arc headed on then partially cleared widee as Canada holds, they look endline but too far. Tied at the end of regulation we move on.
First overtime, an off pass hugs the touchline then goes out for a GK, Canada. A lead pass is turned away by Davidson then Fox is fouled hard. Lavelle pressures and gets a US throw. US throw from less than 20 yard down the line and they win another much deeper. To Horan and it is out off the US. A clearing ball intercepted by Lavellle has Smith in on goal but the GK grabs it up. It pops lose in the Canada area, Smith is there to tuck it away, Lavelle heads on for a great assist, so well taken of a first time shot and near post no less. Smith trying to find an edge to pass a defender has another play it over the endline for a corner a 102’. Horan gets a head on it, wide at the near post.
Second overtime, an early foul in the defensive area to Smith kills some time for the USA. Smith lays one off but the water takes it away. Fox bodies a red shirt makes a run but it goes out of touch. Canada get it into the area but it runs over the endline. Williams takes it to the corner, wins a throw. Last minute, extra time. A ball in has Naeher and an opponent on a ball, full speed, they collide, the GK took the brunt of it. Goal kick coming then the whistle shortly thereafter. No, VAR looking at a PK, possibly on Naeher while going for the ball, the attacking player was punched but I can’t see calling that. Yes, PK on Naeher, as she is also cautioned, wow. Fleming has the ball passes it off to Leon. Leon goes right, Naeher right 2-2 we are headed to PKs.
First up Sophia Smith, she puts her effort to the left, Sheridan goes the same but it sneaks by at the near post a perfect PK. Leon for Canada her shot goes a bit off the center, Naeher makes the save with ease. She has done her job. Albert to the spot, well over the net, not good there goes the advantage of the save. Now for our neighbors to the north up steps another shooter to more or less the same spot and Naeher was there, save #2. Naeher to the spot she buries it as the keeper also guesses right but too much on the ball. Quinn steps up, high right freezing Naeher, goal. Horan, a stutter step, then puts it left as the GK goes right another one in the net. Fleming the captain is up you can hear the crowd chanting USA, again the same general area, no corners, and the save is made next up Brazil.