USWNT V South Africa
South Africa comes off a World Cup and a recent win over Costa Rica, the Ticas are far from a weak team and I would like to think they may be able to hold the score down, hardly a threat to beat this US team with a lot to prove after so poor of a showing in the same World Cup.
A misplayed clearance by the GK has a shot by the US that sails well high. The following goal kick goes off the head of a US player who then win a throw in. Looking long, going for Williams it was way too long. Rodman beats a pair, gets end line and the ball in to Morgan no goal as she is stuffed on her shot attempt. Williams just can’t reel it in at the top of the 6. Dunn gets forward looking for Morgan, and it is played out for a throw in, US ball. Rodman first time to Ertz, but it was not controlled. Corner for USA. US has a deep throw in, it works it’s way to Morgan who is fouled but play on, her feet were taken out from under her. Cleared off Williams, SA gets a throw. A long ball has the player one v one but Naeher is here, well off her line and wins the ball, then the goal kick. Williams, taken off her feet gets the foul. Horan over the ball just lower than the center circle looking for Rodman headed out for a corner. Horan again to put it in play, to Ertz, her header just wide. Low shot just wide for SA and Naeher lets it pass by. Rodman with a great lead pass and another corner. Horan finds Ertz, her headed ball on frame is stopped at the lower 90. From poor defense allowing them the ball deep in the area, it goes out of the area and SA sends in a dangerous long range shot. A long run and the ball put in across the 6 but nobody home, Rodman gets to it near the touchline, gets knocked down from behind, no call. Morgan comes out of the area, gets it, can’t find her target. Girma tracks the runner and SA gets a corner off her ball. Fox from Sonnett goes end line gets it on the ground into the 6 but also played out. Morgan again from goal is fouled to the ground, that she has to come off the goal is not a good sign. The US on that last possession by SA cranked up the pressure, leading to a long clearance by the GK, and the foul. Horan sends in a long one only one near was Rodman with little chance on it as the GK grabs it up. Horan over runs her dribble and loses it. Horan wins a ball to Williams then Ertz with a curving lead pass near Morgan. Ertz, looking for Morgan with a bending ball but off the defender, Horan with another corner. Ertz just misses and it then goes to Williams the ball is over the line in the air but SA plays it out. #16 for her at the international level. Rodman from Morgan a minute 2 seconds later all but puts a hole in the net, 2-0 US. Sonnett makes the steal to Dunn for Horan who goes to Morgan who then send into Rodman, Out goes Ertz, in comes Sullivan, I think too early of an exit as she was near scoring a goal often, send her off with a half may be an hour. Dunn with a first touch pass off a long ball from the opposition finds Horan and is off the mark and SA has it. Horan, given a ball with 3 on her and gets out of trouble. Cooke stops a through ball. Sullivan directing traffic. Williams for Horan, she gets a head on it Morgan gets to it, her effort gets a corner. Horan flicks one on behind her finding Williams for the 3-0 score line. Listening to the talking heads describe spending on the women’s game, getting a good return citing Morocco, great, but no, they are investing, not spending. Morgan again brought to the ground, no call, she is NOT diving, the ref must start making these calls. 3’ extra time and the US may just hold it seems as we are over a minute in. Sonnet again off but Fox is able to recover the ball, now she goes short to Rodman with no issue.
A very sloppy start to the 2nd stanza has SA getting end line across the 6, luckily, neither of the 2 there able to get to it. What a chance, Horan for Williams in the area with a first time little curving go on goal, well wide. Corner by US, Sullivan looking for Horan but SA gets a head on it. Rodman beyond the area has her toe up, of course the ball does the same and stays high of the goal. Unable to handle the throw in, it bounds off the SA player for a throw. Hard challenge with Rodman has SA seeking a card. It was a bang bang play for both. Now 10 minutes in, they remark the game is a bit choppy. Rodman, poor follow through and leaning back again skies one. Though again from a distance, she is able to put one away at this distance. Morgan a bit short but the pass is grabbed, bounces about and the US holds it Fox from Horan cannot get to it, goal kick coming. Vigniola, of Cincy, getting her first minutes with the NT, active in that last exchange. So many passes for the US now, then an offside call. Horan and Morgan out for Sanchez and Hatch, one not utilized well in the WC, the other, not rostered. Rodman steals and makes a run, on the ground tries to find Morgan, does not get there. SA presses and as the US needs many passes to get it out of the area, draw a foul. US now just passing around the back line, not looking to get up field. They never get it beyond the bottom of the center circle, Fox wins the ball on the end line then it is lost. Thompson awaits entering for Rodman, these 15 or so minutes would serve her well. Fox will give way to Krueger. Rodman with a series of cuts gets her off a shot, keeping it low, Hatch controls and sends it upper 90, a bit too high. Hatch marked by a pair loses it plays it out, SA throw. Williams of Gotham is the Player of the Match. Thompson, well faster than her defender, gets the ball into the area but it is played out. Sullivan draws a caution at 85’. Thompson for Krueger and into the area to only an opponent in the area, US does recover it near half field. Girma long ball to Vigniola and the US gets the throw in. A pair of great looks on goal for the US, Krueger just misses Hatch then Williams falling away is just wide with a half chance. Vigniola so far off on a lead ball to Williams. Sullivan loses it deep, Vigniola regains it.
The US was never not in control, did get forward well enough, did not finish nearly, half their chances were well off the mark, though taken and held the ball very well.