The Big Come Back? USWNT post-WC ‘23

[InstaFace]

yeah, Nighswonger effectively took Dunn's job at USA LB after just her rookie season. Not quite a Girma-level debut into the pro game, but not too far behind it either. We're Playing The Kids, and the days of players being entitled to WNT roster spots (to the point of being formally contracted by US Soccer), on the basis of "chemistry / they're familiar with the program", are clearly gone. To the good, imo.

 

[67YAZ]

Cook picks up a “minor knee injury” in preseason, Sauerbrunn added to the Gold Cup roster.

 

[67YAZ]

Alex Morgan ended up getting added to the roster today as Fishel tore her ACL in training yesterday. Ugh.

The US is lighting up the DR tonight. Moultrie opened her account to start the scoring, a back post tap in. The first of many in the uniform, no doubt.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Weird sight of Morgan wearing #7 and Sauerbrunn wearing #5. Since they joined the squad as injury replacements, they had to be assigned the numbers of the players they replaced.

 

[67YAZ]

There's a new "Dos a Cero."

The US was already qualified, but this result put Mexico through in the #1 position while the US will take the path of a #2.

It was a strong line up, and a very experienced one - 7 players with over 50 caps started, all of the teens were on the bench. This group should have handled their business. It is the first time the US has allowed a goal in 33 CONCACAF matches.

The knockout stages will be seeded 1-8 based on group stage performance. The US looks likely to nab the 4th seed, which would put them up against one of Colombia, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, or Paraguay. Colombia take on PR next, and I'm expecting them to drop the hammer to grab the 5th seed.

Then Canada is in pole position for the #1 seed, which would make them the likely semi-final foe if the US gets there.

 

[67YAZ]

Gold Cup knockout rounds:

March 2

(1) Canada vs. (8) Costa Rica (7 p.m.)

(2) Brazil vs. (7) Argentina (10:15 p.m.)

March 3

(3) Mexico vs. (6) Paraguay (5 p.m. )

(4) United States vs. (5) Colombia (8:15 p.m.)

Matches on Paramount+ and ESPN Deportes, times are est.

The Colombia match should be a lot of fun with who knows how many teenagers flying around and playing beyond their years. It's also a true challenge for the US - they need to control the middle of middle of the pitch, force Caicedo to go into her own half to get the ball and push Ramirez out wide. Those two can operate in tight spaces and don't need a lot of room to make things happen.

On the other side, the US has to find a balance between midfield playmaking and wingers running at people. When defenses have been packed in tight, the US is defaulting to a lot of 1v1s out wide, which they usually win...but end up sailing in crosses to a crowded box. Lavelle has to do some Lavelle shit early and force the Colombian defense to step further up and create enough gaps for in-cutting runs.

 

[Ale Xander]

Anyone else trying to watch the Gold Cup on the Paramount+ app and getting cycling and then an error message?

 

[Eastchop]

I have it on, working fine

 

[67YAZ]

This is a great start against a quality opponent.

 

[InstaFace]

This is American soccer culture:

View: https://twitter.com/838_carlisle/status/1764484730286657632

 

[67YAZ]

100th cap & came up huge a few times. Still waiting for a young keeper to displace Naeher…might be a while…

View: https://twitter.com/AttackingThird/status/1764470770032336955?s=20

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

100th cap & came up huge a few times. Still waiting for a young keeper to displace Naeher…might be a while…

View: https://twitter.com/AttackingThird/status/1764470770032336955?s=20

It might happen quickly if Hayes wants to play more possession out of the back, because she simply does not have that club in her bag like at all. Very nice saves last night though, no argument there.

 

[InstaFace]

Bump for tonight's semifinal vs Canada. Starts at 10:15pm ET. Big game, winner to play Brazil for the trophy.

 

[Ale Xander]

Starting XI vs. Canada: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 3-Jenna Nighswonger, 4-Naomi Girma, 7-Alex Morgan, 8-Jaedyn Shaw, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 12-Tierna Davidson, 15-Korbin Albert, 17-Sam Coffey, 22-Trinity Rodman, 23-Emily Fox

That's the 220th cap for Morgan

 

[67YAZ]

Ugh, Paramount+ again. I don't understand how these get shared around. I thought USWNT was all on the Discover-Max platform.

 

[Ale Xander]

It’s Paramount plus ANd ESPN PLuS

which is just weird

 

[Ale Xander]

Currently raining pretty hard (which is just weird for SD) but supposed to end around 5 minutes in.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Ugh, Paramount+ again. I don't understand how these get shared around. I thought USWNT was all on the Discover-Max platform.

Paramount+ has CONCACAF rights, Max just gets any friendlies/She Believes cups/etc. that nobody else has the rights to.

 

[Ale Xander]

Man that's poor draining

 

[Ale Xander]

Cmon Shaw pass the ball

 

[Ale Xander]

This field is a joke

Do they not do tarps for soccer?

 

[Ale Xander]

you can't dribble or pass in this swamp.

Good thing the Uconn WBB team isn't playing in that.

 

[Ale Xander]

Almost a pen
I hope both teams have extra socks

 

[BostonFanInCanesLand]

Goofy goal but hurray

 

[Cellar-Door]

Sure, world class skill, but can they do it in 6 inches of standing water on a Wednesday night in San Diego

 

[Catcher Block]

The replay of the ref gesturing to the sideline that the pitch is unplayable but being told to continue on is predictably Concacaf.

Now all we need is to be told that they couldn't do anything to try and clear the puddles at the half because the federation wouldn't pay the normal grounds crew for the match.

 

[Cellar-Door]

The replay of the ref gesturing to the sideline that the pitch is unplayable but being told to continue on is predictably Concacaf.

Now all we need is to be told that they couldn't do anything to try and clear the puddles at the half because the federation wouldn't pay the normal grounds crew for the match.

apparently CONCACAF spokesman said that the decision is solely the discretion of the ref..... of course everyone pointed out that while the rules may say that... it doesn't actually work that way, which is why he got a "second opinion" from the match commissioner. Basically CONCACAF will blame the ref, but also almost certainly the ref knows they'll get punished if they cancel the match

 

[Catcher Block]

Now a delay before the half starts. Get the rollers back out there.

 

[Catcher Block]

Canada equalizes.

The US had basically stopped attacking in the 10+ minutes leading to the goal. No build up in the attacking third. Just hopeful lobs and passes to no one.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

This is a deeply stupid soccer match.

 

[Cotillion]

Was she onside?

 

[Cotillion]

Was she onside?

Oh yeah... didn't see the near canada player on the initial goal... clear in the replay

 

[Catcher Block]

Lavelle doing all of the work on that sequence. Nice finish by Smith, but I remain unimpressed with her on this team.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Lavelle doing all of the work on that sequence. Nice finish by Smith, but I remain unimpressed with her on this team.

She’s such a good player I can’t imagine we won’t make it work, but she is not made the national team impact you want yet.

 

[Cotillion]

Seems a little early to be playing the trap the ball on the sideline/corner to waste time game.

 

[Catcher Block]

Still too early for the corner flag. Attack the goal.

 

[Cotillion]

Well that's interesting...

 

[ernieshore]

Oh Concacaf - don’t ever change.

 

[Catcher Block]

VAR review at the end of extra time awards Canada a PK.

Naeher came out to contest a long ball and didn't get there. Canadian forward won the header and hit it wide, but referee awarded it up on review.

Seems like a tough call. Both are allowed to contest for that ball. Both jumped into it.

Canada converts the PK. On to a shootout...

 

[lars10]

VAR review at the end of extra time awards Canada a PK.

Neher came out to contest a long ball and didn't get there. Canadian forward won the header and hit it wide, but referee awarded it up on review.

Seems like a tough call. Both are allowed to contest for that ball. Both jumped into it.

It was a bang bang play too.. I guess it's a foul if you slow it down on replay..not sure I've ever seen that kind of penalty given.

 

[lars10]

Pretty sick first pk..

 

[Catcher Block]

I would have put a lot on Smith missing there. She only played the last hour and looked 100% gassed.

And Canada's first PK is an awful one.

 

[Catcher Block]

Two bad, bad PKs from Canada.

Both are chest height, not close to the post.

 

[Cotillion]

Having your goalie take PK shootout is a choice. And she buries it.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

That's about the most a keeper can do to win a shootout.

 

[lars10]

Canada with three pks in the exact same spot.

 

[Catcher Block]

Naeher's PK was better than 3 of the 4 Canadian shooters. That was badass.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Canada with three pks in the exact same spot.

I'll give Naeher credit for the last one. During the run-up she took a quick hop to the left so the Canada player through she could just pass it behind her but Naeher jumped back and got it.

 

[Ale Xander]

It’s March
Survive and advance

 

[67YAZ]

Amazing that no one got seriously injured.

Been happy to see some of the young’uns excel so far and to see the US play with great grit. These last 2 matches have been different kinds of challenges - Colombia played with edge and provocation, Canada is a rival & try played in a swamp.