USWNT v China 2
Jenna of Jersey, the NWSL Rookie of the Year has her first start tonight after a good showing as a sub, also starting is her teammate Lynn Williams. Fox has her leg pulled out from under her and is down for a while just beyond the area. Earlier, she took a header to the side of her head. I do hope they do a full concussion protocol on her as it was quite a blow she suffered, putting her head to the side. Shaw into the area, goes end line for Hatch she plays it back it leaves the box to the far touchline and USA recovers it. Fox now just 16’ in is pulled to the ground, is she being targeted? Nighswonger to take the DFK from a bit closer than halfway to the near touchline just beyond the area, she puts it into the 6, it is headed out by Gotham teammate Williams for a goal kick. Horan with a steal very deep, just beyond the area to Hatch at the top of the area played over the bar by the ‘keeper. Across the 6, the players there are unable to get to it, goal kick for China. A squandered opportunity. Williams blocked at the top of the area. Hatch wins a tackle going forward o Horan she dishes at the top of the box left of goal beyond the spot and is well wide. Nighswonger with 3 misplays in a row, a misstep in getting a ball, a poor pass then her touch betrays her for a thrown in. She redeems herself with a partial block of a centering ball, taken away by Williams. They combine again then it gets to Horan. Horan, down in the area as is a Chinese player, she is up first US trainers enter the field, she is holding just above her left hip. First look in slo mo shows nothing as far as how she was injured, she now comes off for a bit. Horan wins a ball, goes end line it is intercepted and the US has a throw in. Jenna beyond the area with a great strike, mishandled by the net minder who is able to regain the rebound. Horan gets it in front of the goal, she turns and loses the ball, it gets to Shaw and off the side netting. Down one touchline and up the next though the backline of the US as Jenna combines with Williams. Horan, in a mid air collision is surprised it is called a throw in for China. Jenna Nighswonger to Williams is said yet again. Girma defending a break steps up on a ball played a tad to forward and here comes the US. Williams goes end line plays it back to a player who cannot send it goal ward as it is then cleared. Too many players in blue looking to do way too much and losing possession. Fox who committed the deep foul well left of the area at 45’ but a bit of injury time coming, the wall is set. Only 3’ in stoppage time, all China needed as they put one in 10 seconds or so into that area off the kick, a shorter and better angle similar to a corner, Not a soul remained at the far post, the player was fully open and a goal. This first half has not been as active as was the last game, the 2nd of a pair of goals given up on the year by the USA. Williams for Horan in the area, her choice of placement over power is blocked. Williams almost able to spring Horan.
If China does more of the same, they may just win this. If the US gets some energy, possibly in the form of the 3rd Gotham player on the field with Midge Purce. Fox is out due to concussion, the medical and coaching staff are wanting in their ability to check that long ago.
The press has returned for the US. DFK just beyond the area and wide left taken by local product Shaw, she grew up 1.5 blocks away & has 50 people in the stands for her. Now the talking heads are being critical of Fox not being removed earlier. I was half an hour ahead of them on this, what does it take to check her loooong ago? US still not able to really connect in the offensive third. Smith is also in but she must be more on target than last time out. Horan for Smith collides with GK, ball is free but she recovers it. Kingsbury grabs a cross and there goes Jenna attacking over midfield looking for Lynn and they fail to link up. Williams gives way to Rodman and both get a rousing round of applause. Jenna inside finds Horan who drops to Rodman and it goes to Coffey who is very high with her shot. Purce beats one, goes to Shaw, returned to Midge and offside is called on the US. Shaw to Smith off her chest comes a weak shot and comes up holding her back or her GPS tracker may be out of its holder. US wins a corner as Smith and Shaw combine for a first time shot by Shaw, it is blocked. Corner one hops into area finessed into the upper corner by Coffey, she looked a bit surprised that it found the back of the net, great awareness by Sonnet in finding her for a quick touch pass, what a big smile on her face at 62’. Rodman switches fields for Purce who goes way wide on a crossing ball. Horan knocks down the goal kick, Jenna gathers it in and it goes to the end line if only a teammate had. Horan is off as Shaw beats the GK from beyond the area. Horan out Moultrie in and Albert of PSG are on as Coffey gets a rest and Sonnet the captain’s armband. Less than 20’ to play, the US needs a goal or close the year in similar fashion to the World Cup, very poorly. Shaw leads Moultrie but too much on it. Jenna seeing a lot of the ball this half as well, sends a ball in played out, it works it’s way back to her. Albert down in a big collision, caution to China. She is holding her face after taking a shot to the face. Checking her orbital now and cheek bones. She will remain on the field. Over the ball is Jenna from 20 yards, talking with Shaw, Jenna into the wall, rebound passed back then buried by Shaw from just beyond the area. Could this be what they were discussing? Less than 10’ and Smith just missed a ball from Shaw off a header in the 6. Moultrie on goal and Smith to the ground as she tried to put it on goal. Purce takes on a few and goes end line for a corner, Fellow Gotham player Jenna takes it. Another corner, as Thompson awaits entry for Shaw, the local player who just struck what may be the GWG and what a loud crowd for her. Caution to China again, the crowd reacted to that as she grabbed a USA player by the hair in a bit of a tussle. Jenna goes rightie for a powerful shot over the bar by the Albert to take the corner. Rodman goes too far forward and drifted wide, her shot is saved for a corner. Albert again to take the kick.
In neither game did the USWNT instill confidence heading into the new year, facing a weak China even though they did not have their A team playing, in the past their B team would be world beaters as well. My biggest takeaway from this game is the Fox incident, allowed to play a long time despite suffering a severe blow to the head. So much attention is being given to this and she was allowed to play on…