US & China in U-17 World Cup
This is a historic rivalry going back to the very beginning fo WOSO at the international level. I expect to see a very compact, efficient team from China and the US to play a very open style of play.
China is in on goal first with a shot in the opening 30 seconds. A high header is just wide in less than 2 minutes. The USA with a deep throw that is lost and recovered, then played to their backfield. US hold and move it around in their offensive third, lose then recover going again to their backfield a few times. There is mild pressure from China, but very fast ball movement, this may be hurting their ability more than the opposition. Both teams are yet to concede a goal in these games. The US with a weak shot. Last time out in this yearly tourney the US lost in the semis to the title takers, England. China defend out of touch in the neutral zone, again a header goes to all but the same point. Possession is lost and regained in the neutral zone. A pass to a marked player, is of course lost, played far too far ahead and the US have it just out of their area. Great one touch pass springs a player forward who wins the rebound of a tackle. A great run and so well taken of a shot has China take the lead at 12’. A deft nudge of the ball past the defender then just a run on goal off a curling shot to the far post at the top of the arc, class all the way. Goal by Zhou has been given the green light by the 4th official. Corner for China, the ball goes to the side of the 6 and out. US corner and twice the center talks to players. Top of the 6 and a bit beyond the frame of the goal it comes, out sent back in from the top of the area and just off the frame, what a blast. Just in their defensive end, China defends one out of play. China gets a whistle on the touchline and it goes to the GK. Misplayed out by the defender in the neutral zone, the ball to the area is lost and now recovered blocked then played out about 15 yards up field. To the area from Schmidt and back to her, she goes back. Partially cleared the US hold and are getting forward, until they go to their backfield? O’Neil cannot settle the ball and the ball in by China taken and here come the US again. O’Neil challenges, wins it back now across the field and misplayed under no pressure to the wing, China throw. US pressure and win it then go to the GK twice, a third time no pressure as it is now 4x to her, make it 5. China is covering the players well, China foul in the neutral zone. A strong pass is lost by the US. China look long find the player at the endline defended off the attack and US deep throw in their own end. Non call on a play in the China area. The replay shows no foul, great non call. Tackled away and the US are in the area, a touch too many?, now it is roofed to the upper corner at 27’ off the cultured left foot following the half field run by Malsom, a class finish. Both goal getters have multiple goals in this Cup. Medium pressure has the US pass a ball out of touch. There is an open mic too close to people and they are talking throughout, now the commentators are silent for about 30 seconds far too long. Another long stretch of silence form the talking heads, they must have better game notes as we now hear people greeting each other, hoping they don’t curse or anything bad. Not describing the play, if only to block out the other mic, just the names of who has the ball is being stated. US corner then foul at about 25 yards. China Zhang is out Xuy is in. A 15 year old has just entered the game at 31’. A US lead ball into the area is then played across the 6, the GK grabs it, this is all but a set piece, to play it across the 6 yet it was empty of US players for ¾ of it nearest the pass. Cleared out by China near midfield, the US hold in their backfield going to the Gk. Now about 40 yards given away as the GK is well off her line for a weak pass. Nice first time square ball given now Johnson with a give and goes, goes down, US holds. Kennedy outside to Schmidt now at the edge of the 6 and by line it is laid back, a first time shot goes out. US with an errant pass lose it, pressured but out by China and out of play just below the center circle. China gets a whistle. Schmidt heads one out near the top of the area, into the 6 and covered up by the GK. China is swarming the ball a lead ball on the wing is taken, recovered in the US defensive third, now into the area and the China GK has it. At 40’ this has been a very even game. A great turn as China beats one but not the next and a lead ball into the area is lost at the top of the 6 by the US, get the shot off, it may be low percentage but it may get through. USA with a throw and it goes back to the center circle now the edge of it and Schmidt into the area looking near post, well wide, but not a bad idea. Kennedy takes it at midfield, plays into the area, defended out for a very deep throw at 43’ for the US just off the corner. Played short, now back to the circle and to the arc, defended away the US get it to their GK. US looking to get forward again into the top of the area and the shot is true at 44’. DiMaria, what a way to go into the break. The defense possibly giving too much respect as they just backed up and did not contest the ball. I do like that both teams are taking the distant shots, it will cause different defensive tactics, possibly giving room to get by them, or a player behind. Lost at the side of the 18 China loses and regain near midfield, the long ball, well over the endline. Long USA throw now to the endline and a foul on the USA, halfway through the 3’ of added time. US shields a ball in their defensive third, fouled as the player is run over. US with a deep steal but go well into their defense and a great ball in and from near the penalty mark it is sent home at 3’ in added time, 3-1 USA. A lead ball, lets it run a bit then first time sent home. Touray with a nice, calm placing of the ball.
The US need to keep pushing as China will surely send players forward, build on the lead but do not leave themselves exposed for a counter to put thie game away. China needs to mark better and make more of their chances, fewer long balls forward that are taken away.
China with a few subs to start the second half, still no Whitman of Gotham for the USA. China with an early corner, looking to claw one back early, no doubt. The kick is to the center of the area. Boxed out to the top of the area then cleared out of play at about 30 yards. Stopped at the side of the area and the US go too long, losing it just over half and it is twice to the China GK. Again the long ball by China getting forward, defender out they have a throw in the US half, but lose the ball as the US go to their GK. Over midfield and the US have one running down the line, into the area and to the 6, defended out for a US corner at 49’. Kennedy on the corner, she puts it to the center of the 6, it was a very high ball, cleared off the line, US foul, the restart taken from the top of the 6, a US player pushed the GK to the ground. Now an open mic near a trainer as we hear a man stating to jog it in, jog it back, where are the engineers here? US throw near the midfield line. Way too much on a pass of less than 10 yards, lost then recovered and so fast, Johnson in the area, across the 6, just beyond her target, there were 3 players there, US corner. Kennedy now to the penalty as it is headed too high, great way to mix it up. China redirect a ball in the center circle but it goes to the US GK, the clearing ball, then a foul in the center circle. It is so annoying hearing these other voices on the broadcast. Johnson again goes wide to Malsom and the goal scorer has it tackled away, a corner to be taken by Kennedy, bounced in the area, bobbled but covered by the GK. Her fast release gets a player in the area but the ball is lost. A clearing ball on the wing by China taken then the US win a very deep throw, but they go to the center circle with it. On the wing and a lead ball played out for another corner at 57’, these corners are indicative of the US getting forward. Kennedy again over the ball to the center of the area headed out of the area then the US goes out to Kennedy again from O’Neil, laid back, played in to the feet of the US again now Sadler turns her mark but the ball to the area played out. Caution to Cecil for blocking then tripping a player getting beyond her. Some magic spray and she is on her feet. Played wide for the restart, sent into the area and far beyond the endline. China pressing but the US handled it well for a few passes, losing it at midfield, regaining another long ball in by China then again losing it only to recover at midfield. O’Neil on the wing it is blocked she loses it, taken back in the defensive end of China, fast forward into the are and across the 6, a trio of open players, one sends it home for the 4-1 line off the wing from Johnson who is off now and Brewer on Krocker & Chudowsky. The goal by Touray who now has a brace, bringing her total in this Cup to a trio of goals and the US having 7 overall. Typically subs are made at the half hour mark. I am sure most starters will be removed, giving the starters a rest and others some time. USA now with another at 68’ courtesy of a lead ball in the area is taken first time another for Malsom. Whitman waits to enter as Touray and Malsom leave also on is Rodriguez. Whitman taking a page from teammate, Esther stays in front of the GK, yet out of the area. A throw from 10 yards aby the US goes to their backfield, getting forward, the pass is lost now at the top of their area and a deep foul by the US in a dangerous position for China taking a DFK from just outside the area at about 12 yards. Sure to go into the 6, it is whistled down to be taken again this one, a high arcing ball. Next one more driven, finds the head of a Chinese player and over the goal as Kennedy is out for Showler-Little to a round of cheers at 78’. A lead ball played out by China into their area a throw from about 10 yards is coming up. Foul on the US. At 79’, it is mentioned that a top player with the Wave, is not present for the US. China wins a corner at 80’ the last one went well, they may go the same route, driven towards the goal. To the top of the area and headed clear, the US hold and they are getting numbers forward. First touch toward a defender is lost to the GK. The GK well off her line and a lot of whistled for the DFK by the GK as Mak does trip the GK on the endline, foul called, another US foul, what is going on with all these fouls. The US moving the ball all but at will then a pass to a white shirt gives China a run on the net until a foul in the area by the attacking player, very costly to do so in the area after a nice run. A ball not received well by the US leads to a shot and now a handball taken in the arc by China, a great chance here for them. Litle space here, hard to get the height or much of an angle, blast at the wall? What great placement over the wall and high to the side of the goal, surely too little too late, but wow. The US GK well off her line, stay home you had the defenders. US with a restart just beyond the area, near the touchline and they go back and forth with it now to their backfield. Played forward and over the endline. Headed away by the US and a foul on China. Still looking forward and a ball pops out of a challenge, the US has a deep throw. It is lost, a turn and nice move has China bringing it up but the ball forward is out of touch, the throw lost, but defended out for another US throw. Here they come again, turned back then lost, recovered in the China half a ball in off the mark another foul in the center circle. Extra time in 4’ to come. USA with a shot from the top of the area by Rodriguez, is over the net. The goal kick headed back over the endline by the USA, they do it again. This US header goes out for a China throw near midfield. Another long ball forward taken and the US have it at the endline at the corner for a moment then laid back, and again. At 93’ China with a throw in the US third.