USWNT & Portugal
Finally something my Brazilian wife and I may agree on, for my part that I want the US to win as she wants Portugal to lose. Our friend JP Dellacamera, now an executive with the MASL, we have heard him since the days of the MISL where he called a number of games of my NY Arrows and also did many for the NY Cosmos here on LI in their reboot era. He is joined by a part owner of Queensboro, the David Villa lead effort here, Aly Wagner seeking to put a team in the USL, their youth program has been very good, last season their women’s side, not so successful.
The US goes in on goal first with under half a minute in, it bounds about in the area and out. Smith with a ball too long or so it appeared as it was brought down, it goes in by Williams for Morgan her redirected ball is deflected over the endline, corner at 3:30. Lavelle is over the ball Headed goal ward by Williams of our local Gotham FC, covered up by the GK. At half field, Horan finds an outlet, lost by Williams and the US recovers, Dunn of RVC has it, it’s lost, Smith then knocks it out of touch. Horan seeking Morgan who had just turned inside, another unforced turnover. Horan to the side of the 6, Morgan hits it out of the air and wide, but ever dangerous. The ensuing GK, intercepted but not retained by Morgan. Decent movement on a deep throw in leads to a high shot by Portugal. Smith for Morgan and the pass is stolen away. Portugal gets forward but the US has numbers and Girma plays it over the touchline. Some possession in tight spaces, Dunn plays it at the defender with force getting the throw. Dunn seeks out Morgan but a 2 v 4 is broken up and the US gets the partial clearance, then a foul, US DFK as Sullivan is brought to the ground. Portugal coughs it up, Smith has it and with 2 on her, she had it taken away. Pressure on Dunn after a GK has it laid back, now inside for Williams from Smith with a 40 yard ball, as it was goal bound, Morgan was just behind it as the GK reeled it in. Portugal getting up field, it is too long and the GK has it. Dunn loses her mark, finds Horan who can’t beat one and it’s gone, Dunn takes it back. A 20 yard pass leads to the top of the area with a lead pass that was too long, she should have shot as Portugal gets their best look thus far at 16’. Portugal forced back a good 50 yards to their GK, the ball forward picked by Girma. Portugal sends one into the area partly cleared and Smith gets her foot taken out and is holding her shin as her plant leg was taken out. Dunn for Morgan in a crowd on a throw is unable to get it. Portugal has not really been dangerous, but they are getting forward. A long ball goes to the GK who was coming off her line. Smith heading endline is on the ground again yet wins the corner. Sullivan readies herself, looking for Morgan the GK boxes it out as a Portugese player is holding her head after going for the ball with Lavelle. Fox challenges for a GK. Pushed off the ball. The GK takes an elbow from Morgan, remaining down. She is up to a round of applause, the kick goes into the offensive 3rd for Portugal but played out, then over the touchline near the half, now the US had a throw, Morgan dancing endline it looked over the line. Replay shows it was very close but it is now a GK. Portugal sends in a floater, it lands in the 6, then cleared away. Not so high this time, but another ball from the left side, Naeher takes it out of the air. Williams beats her mark with speed, sends it in past the 6, it’s played back in and lost, but quickly taken back then lost again. A deep throw for the US as Dunn plays it in, headed back ad lost, US takes it back. Horan for Lavelle is lost. Vietnam is getting trounced by the Netherlands and the US does not seem to really be attacking with a mission, they may due to GA, not take the top spot in their group. A few passes gets the ball to the other side and out, the US gets a throw, then a player knocked down, a loss of possession but too long of a ball finds Naeher, Portugal throw. A quick ball in is headed back out on the left again, Dunn is down, as the US gives a corner away. This little bit was the best pressure, but not on goal, sending 5 forward. This their first corner, bounces around a bit then recovered by the red clad Portugese have a player challenge for the ball, she lunges taking down the player and is disputing it? She will now sit the following game due to YC accumulation. Sliding into and taking out the leg of the other is a foul, a soft yellow perhaps. A ball in is less than a yard off by Portgual of tthe goal. Ertz, plays a high long ball that bounds out of play. The throw in was thrown out, US ball. Smith takes the player out, a far worse challenge than Lavelle just moments ago, does not get carded. Dunn goes endline a sliding tackle sends it wide she tries to beat the next player and off her it goes for a GK over the endline. 2’ of extra time and Portugal gets forward as the US gets it back they suffer a foul. Naeher takes it, it goes to the other endline and out as Smith has it go out by a defender. Sullivan again down the crowd is loud, boxed away and GIrma finds Williams and it is right at the GK as her first touch was not the best but it was a crowded and a long ball for her.
The possession, a worthless stat to me is clearly in favor of Portugal, the US must tighten up in the back, too many balls are getting sent in, as this game wears on, they will see more red shirts coming at them as Portugal looks to net one. For their part on the offensive end, they are being marked and outnumbered, perhaps distant shots will open that up a bit, but shots must get taken and on target. The talking heads are skewering the USWNT. They are not having a bad game, just not a good one, facing a top 25 team, they had stated at the opening that this was an opportunity for the US to send a message, one has yet to be received. Talk of survival, Dunn looks as if she never played before, too many issues to get into during this short time is really just noise to me. Yes, one would expect them to handily hand Portugal a loss, it is halftime, these are always the key adjustments, taken to task for but one sub last game, I do expect them to come from Vlatko by the hour mark if not to open the half. Just getting shots off will change the complexion of the game as the defensive scheme will change for Portugal.
Portugal seems relaxed, a quick shot of their player doing ball tricks. Here we go, though not lost on the commentators that all the US has to do is, not lose and they are in, it is all doomsday. All they need to do is get through without conceeding and they are in the knockout rounds. Though no subs, a few players are up for Vlatko. Lavelle dropped, Ertz sends in in a ball from 50 yards in the area Lavelle turns and lets one go, well high. Smith gets it near half field and is fouled, while down kicked on the side a bit. Smith dribbles right into her defender. US foul by Williams. More talk of this even ending tied, the biggest upset in history of these games. Morgan double teamed has a lead ball put in as it drifts, one defender leaves, the other gets to it. A hard foul just shown on the big screen at the venue I am sure causes a crowd reaction to the contact by Smith who is cautioned. Studs up high kick to the face of the player who is up. Now it is mentioned that as we approach the hour mark, the US will make changes. Morgan on the counter is fed by Horan, she goes wide and endline as the ‘keeper goes near post, the defender plays it out for a corner. Lavelle goes near post, finds Smith on the way out, her effort is well off the mark from just beyond the area. Lavelle, well off her target and the ball is lost in their offensive third. US throw from the bottom of the circle, a yellow is shown as just out of the area, Morgan is taken down, Costa at 56’. This, the best chance for the US will be taken by Lavelle, a small wall is here just off the corner of the area, I am sure a pass not a shot is coming. Looking for Morgan, it winds up over the bar by her as she was unable to turn on it while facing away from the goal. Lavelle loses her mark and too much for Smith to get to. Now players are seeking to make their mark on the game. A 3 v 5 as Sullivan leads he charge. Tripped from behind again, just out of the area was Lavelle, a foul 15 yards further was called and Lavelle is over it again. She finds the head of Williams who sends it wide near post, she was unable to square her body, and snapped her head at it. Smith is out at 82’. Portugal going end line getting bumped wants a call as it may have been last played but the US has it as she was kicked. Quickly it goes into the Portugal end but too far and now a throw in. A miracle as the Portugese player down yelling writhing in pain and then going without a limp. Now a USA corner, first of the half. Near post for Ertz, and it was not flicked on but out as an opponent is down, Diana Silva, taking an elbow from Williams to the face. The kick goes to half field, controlled by Portugal then lost. Seeking Morgan with a long ball did not work and now the US pressures and Portugal retains it back to their netminder. Lavelle loses a short pass to Williams, it winds out out of bounds for the US. Williams again the target and is a Portugal throw. Dunn kicks it away but taken back, recovered by the US and lost going the other way, now a US kick from a professional foul of a shirt pull. Morgan down and a yellow issued as she felt that one Gomes is out of a next game if Portugal wins for stepping on her foot. DFK from 30 yards, seeking Horan i is cleared and they get forward, the US has numbers back and Lavelle took the brunt of her hard tackle, just running into the other player. DFK controlled by US as they get it back to Naeher. Portugal has amped up their pressure. Morgan pressures and the player lets it go through her legs, Alex goes around and gets it. US is not finding open players, Fox for Williams well too far ahead. I expect another sub soon, as with a tie the US lives on, where on the field do they make a change? Portugal plays it a bit forward on the wing, but not a player near, US throw. GK well out of her area but well ahead of Morgan and clears i but out of play. Unforced error for Horan and the ball is lost. Back to Ertz, Fox pushed to the ground in front of the ref, it stays as a throw of course, no need for that. Horan steals it and it gets up as Sullivan slips and now Ertz loses it and gets to Silva, Girma cautioned at 81’ losing the ball, then Girma pulls the shirt, DFK from about 30 yards, the line is at the top of the area, played to the outside, back it to the feet of the US defenders as Naeher is unable to hold it but covers it. A no look back heel, foolish so deep luckily played out and the US has a throw in, same player commits a handball? A pair await entry for the USA, Rodman and Sonnet, out go Horan and Williams, so not playing to win with these subs. Morgan alone, plays it in blocked, she recovers it, sends another on net and saved. I think her first attempt was a pass but should have been shot, her second ball was wide and not with much behind it from a bad angle. Yellow on Portugal springs Rodman who loses it but it is a US corner. Suggested by a commentator that with the Netherlands so far in front, the US should slow down a bit, no, get the goal, ensure you are through. Sonnet into the GK who remains down holding her wrist at ’87. Portugal with some deft passing in tight spaces, go long it is headed but too long for the US speedster, Rodman and a GK. Another errant pass, this has been a bit of their undoing this early morning. 8’ of extra time as Morgan gets in on goal but under heavy pressure, it’s wide. Portugal gets the best look by all and they go off the post, wow, that would have put the US down with 6’, they come back with a long shot, more hopeful than anything that goes wide. Hoping Naeher gives that post a kiss. This must fire up the Portugese, hoping it wakes the USA. The US has some pressure but it goes nowhere. Another long ball but not a white shirt to be found. Foul by the US and the Portugal coach has a word with his player as Sullivan puts her shoulder to the player. Into the area, Naeher out a good 15 yards from her line and it goes out for a corner. In a crowd with her hand open as if to hold the ball rather then box it out, Sullivan sends it in, her target whiffs and it’s a Portugal ball. Dunn for O’Hara and Morgan for Thompson. Last minute and yes the US should survive but who knows. This performance facing Sweden equals a plane ride home, a long quiet one. JP says exactly what I was thinking, WOW!
As mentioned, yes, O’Hara of Gotham did speak first, did she jump the circle? Seemed to me as she was making it known, this game is done, we are moving on? There could be more to this as at a game just prior to naming his roster, Vlatko was at a game here for Gotham, standing with her and another I asked if I may get a photo, fully able to just take it, she declined. I was told she may have been uncomfortable as he was of course there to see players, including her and may have not been happy not playing, may have still been recovering? This I doubt, as she is a known entity, there would have been nothing she could have done in 90’ to turn him on or off to having her on the roster. But one never knows. During her post game interview, yes it is more or less what she said. Also in this new view of video from the team huddle, Vlatko did speak though not fast, it was said that he did not.
Though strong on defense over this trio of games, if the US does not start to find the back of the net it will be an abbreviated visit down under. Talk of if Vlatko loses, does he resign or get fired. To think he may get a 3rd cycle is foolhardy, he is done here win or lose. He has had a great run, a terrific record and will I hope continue to coach in the NWSL in the near future.