USWNT 1-0 Germany onto Gold Saturday at 11
It is widely held that in a second game the advantage goes to the loser of the first. Germany, now down their top goal getter and captain as Davidson returns for the US from injury and Coffey from suspension, this truism may not exactly hold. I did not expect the US to do as well as they did in their first clash, further I was not surprised at the Japan game, so this will be rather interesting. I fully expect Germany to press more than did Japan and otherwise defend very much in the same fashion. As they came out of the tunnel, I counted a trio of members of Gotham, the local NWSL team and reigning champions among the starters for the USA. All of the Germans are holding hands for their national anthem, a great sign of togetherness. I have no idea of why they went with a wide shot showing the upper bowl empty as well as many available seats on the near touchline. My constant request to shoot both teams at games here, falls upon deaf ears, whereas in he Olympics, they delay one team to get the other one done first, enabling one to switch over and get the second? It has just been noted the German HC, will step down at the conclusion of these games, as the US HC is just starting her tenure.
Crystal, dropped twice in seconds, gets the call on the last. DFK from 50 or so yard will land in the area, gets to the 6, Davidson with nothing behind it sends it right at the GK. Horan hip checked. Over the top, Naeher gets it Fox gets wide and the tight D slows the US, Trinity alone, crosses to Lavelle, barely challenging the GK who knocks down the high ball. Japan tried with no success to go over the top, Germany gives it a go again and offside. Only 15,000 people at this game, I would have sold out anywhere in the states. Lavelle get forward, the square ball to her is lost. Fox carries looking for Smith her teammate next to her and she gets off a weak shot to the GK of Gotham in the net for Germany. Fox can’t get the ball away, Girma saves the day with a hard tackle in the area, no call, Fox runs it down then Rodman is fouled. Smith held maybe 25 yards away and here we see Horan alone over the ball, she is going on goal. Into the wall. Now Lavelle for the corner, Great ball movement by the US but lost in their offensive third, leads to a break, Dunn gets back, defends a centering ball for a corner. It goes near post cleared, then Dunn is run over. First good look at goal goes to Germany, a low shot sends Naeher to ground and it is taken by the US. Swanson at the other end, her ball into the 6 to the feet of a defender. Dunn down the line and skies her cross. When does it become persistent infringement with so many fouls by Germany who are being rather physical. Smith goes endline for Swanson, taken away and a bit of behind the back ball from Germany. A long ball, probably a cross that drifted to goal is grabbed up, no issue by Naeher. The pressure again by Germany causes a turnover. A through ball gets straight to the GK, Naeher has no issue with it. Smith ridden of the ball and here comes Germany Fox runs it up and is fouled, hard it is now past time, no effort made to get the ball but lined up the player well. Now a warning only to another player. Fox is down for a bit Davidson to Rodman to Smith and out again all in the area. Horan to Dunn her ball in right back to her and they go wide, Horan again and wins a corner. Smith did not get around fully on the shot, similar to a foul ball. The corner right into the hands of Berger of Gotham. Horan runs through the back of a player, whistled down with a quickness. Davidson defends it out for a deep throw. Another foul, not so bad but does not result with a card. Rodman misses a defender and it is played out, on the way to Swanson, US throw. An off the ball foul does bring out the card on Hegering , she ran right into the player and knocked her off her feet. Lavelle with the kick and a player is down for Germany, she was tangled up with Horan.
Germany into the area, the ball is blocked away by Fox. Horan goes over the top of the German player, both are down Lindsey took the worst of it, both are up. An errant ball from Sonnett, then she allows the player with the ball right past between her and Dunn, gets the ball and Emily just plays it out of touch with a player just feet in the other direction, alone. Girma to Smith in the area, the US press causing problems, Dunn’s tackle gets to Coffey then Swanson now Lavelle seeks out her forward but it is headed out. Girma called for getting run into by an opponent. Another through ball by Germany goes over the endline. Horan on the endline gets the throw in. Into the area the German GK grabs it at waist height. Rodman with a ball in off the defenders chest, she gets it back from Horan and loses it out for a throw, Coffey taken off her one foot and the defender is upset as she then had a break. Into the US area, headed out, recovered at the bottom of the circle and Germany holds, a weak shot by Brand trickles to Naeher. Pretty sure this goal kick is an error, I and the talking heads all think it should be a German ball not a goal kick. Lavellle in evading one runs into both and loses it, right back and going far post go Germany but it is well wide. Deep losses of the ball will hurt you in a big way. Coffey tackles, ball goes past, player goes down. Trinity pushes it forward and it about 5 different ways on the way to the ground, no whistle, she was run over. Williams awaits to enter. Rodman remains down, you hear Hayes ask, “Is she ok?” Williams in, her first touch a promising ball to Horan who is met by a defender. Germany is all over the place far faster, more aggressive than the US. Girma has it Swanson alone in the area and hits the side netting and offside, such a great ball from Girma. Rodman again taken down and that player stays down. Gotham’s Sonnet for Gotham’s Williams, too high and Gotham’s Berger has it for Germany. Germany with a 3 v 4 gets broken up by Girma, here comes the USA Swanson cannot pressure the GK enough and a player down for Germany. Naeher stretches her as the training team come out. Just over 20’ to go, who wants it more? US pressure is beaten Grand into the area Dunn goes to ground and now WIliams has it then loses under the defense of a trio, Horan gets it then fouled. Horan with a steal from Smith to Rodman who passes to a German in the area. Coffey gets it back at the bottom of the circle. Fox leads Swanson into the 6, cleared wide then far by Germany. Rodman to the edge of the area, passes off, Smith shoots off Williams and Berger has it. Germany passes ball a lot, get a few good looks, then take one that only has Naeher step to the side to get. 15’ left. How Dunn did not get called for that I have no idea. Sonnettt with a last gasp tackle getting it inside to her team. Back to Emily, now GIrma to Fox, Rodman down the line into the area, blocked for a corner. Swanson sends the corner in Coffey sends it back in and Horan sends it goalward, Berger up to the task. Coffey to Rodman outside then Smith, one touch too many, do not set that ball shoot it. Coffey to Rodman up the line for Smith now Horan beyond the arc, blocked out for a throw, USA. Quick restart as a player was left alone German in the area goes to the 6 and offside as Girma has it. Swanson goes endline and hits the top of the goal. Another US pass to not a soul for the US. Swanson too loong for Smith with 4’ to go. This was a great looking chance, never materialized. Dunn steals it and the flag is up, Swanson puts it in, VAR will give it a look, replay shows off, yes. Another pass in their offensive third taken away, the US is losing out on good times. Through ball to Swanson defender out for a throw very deep she had a player but numerous opponents, in the air Boxed out GK and Horan down , up fast. Rodman for Swanson she pulls it back for Williams but Berger grabs it. Across the goalmouth of the US, nobody home. Another ball played out of play by the US under no pressure. 5’ of extra time has just begun. Rodman looking to spring a player, into the other team. Coffey shy of Horan , Dunn reels it in, Sonnett crosses to Fox, seeks out Williams and she gets called for a foul. Rodman from 25, pulls it back now into the backfield, Sonnett to Dunn and who goes down the flank, trips, losing the ball. Dunn on the throw, can’t get it to her target, Germany takes it. The German coach wants a DFK, not a throw as Dunn kicks the opponent it is corrected. Headed on Naeher can’t handle it, it goes off her torso, she grabs it again.
Albert & Nighswonger, of Gotham are in. Horan and Dunn are out. We have video on the Facebook page of Soccer Long Island Magazine 2 of both subs, Albert exclaiming her toes are out after giving away her socks, Jenna explain her off season after taking the NWSL title and a personal award, going to USWNT in FL. A far, weak shot by Swanson as she took the ball away. Girma with a great tackle in the area, a deft pass to Swanson, it comes back, Girma takes it again. Rodman wins a challenge then loses the ball. Germany into the area turns Fox a bit then nutmegs her but Naeher is there. Smith outpaces her mark gets it over the GK, what a ball played through by Swanson. Remember this, one is most likely to give up a goal right after getting one. 25’ left to play here. All along the back line for the US then it’s played forward to Berger. Swanson finds space in the circle feeds Rodman who like last game went left foot to curl it but off a defender for a corner. Swanson to send it in. Through the area and out for a throw, not what anyone wanted out of that ball. Girma shields the ball out for a goal kick. Great effort by Rodman puts it out of play, off Germany for a throw at midfield. Albert with her shirt pulled still gets it out to Nighswonger. The German player grabbing both jerseys gets the call. Swanson beats an opponent, not the next, yet it goes to the feet of Trinity she has a go from distance and high. Jenna for Smith kick save and a beaut by Berger. Fox with a toe poke gives up a corner. Last play I am sure of the first overtime period. Naeher pushes the ball back, may be have been able to hold, was under no pressure. 1’ of extra time here. Jenna gets the US the goal kick. Germany to their endline into the 6 Naeher grabs and holds it. Smith grabbed, foul called. Sonnett in a more central role nods one out of the area, Kruger shields it out for the corner. Corner by Germany off a blocked cross by Jenna a thumping shot goes off the defense and Naeher brings it in. Headed on by Germany, forward by Kruger, further forward off the foot of Smith. Girma sends a ball from the area out of touch. Handball in the area of the US by Germany. At the top of the area with less than 2’ to go Smith from behind fouls and it is just 10’ beyond the area, this will be on goal with force. Into the wall, and up on goal Naeher gets in the way of it. Smith on a break and shoots it into Berger, again too many touches, pulling her further away from goal, do this against Berger in club play, not now. Final minute, this is down to the wire. It is over, they go for gold Sat at 11.