Saturday, July 4, 2015 *** HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ***
QUESTIONABLE PK CALLS PROPEL USA AND JAPAN INTO FINALS
Thecomebacker claims 1st HWCI WWC title and D.R. joins money circle; 4 vying for final 2 spots
KAPA'A, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I (smt) -- Four penalty kick calls dominated the semifinals with at least 3 of them questionable. Although I've seen many worse plays than 1D-USA's Julie Johnston's strong-arming foul in the box, I do agree that if you're going to call a PK, it has to be a red card. Incredible it wasn't but 1B-Germany didn't take advantage as Celia Sasic shot wide left, the first miss ever for GER (was 18-0 including all 5 in PSO). Alex Morgan was then blocked going into the box but the ref called it a PK anyway and Carli Lloyd took advantage, her third straight match with a goal, and momentum swung USA's way. Lloyd sealed the #1 team's fate with a perfect cross for sub Kelley O'Hara to tap it in. The 2-0 victory meant the USA picked up it's fifth straight shutout and the USA's backline and GK Hope Solo have not allowed a goal in 513 minutes. I guess the USA finally peaked thanks to a new 4-3-3 formation and bad refereeing. Finally.
In the second semifinal, 1C-Japan got a gift PK for a foul outside the box and converted but then turnabout is fair
One good thing about a two-hour flight delay is that I get to watch the complete USA-Germany match in the Delta Sky Club. Two questionable PK calls but USA takes advantage of theirs to the delight of the club. Still lots of time left though.
So it looks like I'll miss most of the USA-Germany match. But I'll still be wearing red. Why? So I didn't want any type of lucky anything so I randomly picked out USA shirts. Unfortunately, after the round robin, I realized that I wore all red polo shirts (two different) for the two USA wins and a blue shirt for the tie with Sweden.
Karablast! SO.... red shirt vs Colombia. Win. Red shirt vs China. Win. I'm wearing a red polo today. Crossing fingers...
Monday, June 29, 2015
FRENCH BLOW OPPORTUNITY, HOSTS' COMBACK FALLS SHORT
Spermicidal WFC remains in first but loses champ Canada; Thecomebacker guaranteed money
EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) -- Wide Left. That will be what 1F-France remembers as they bookended the match vs 1B-Germany with wide open misses wide left from the lovely and
humbled Louisa Necib in the first minute and a
Wondo! (a shot that is ten times harder to miss than make) by Gaetane Thiney three minutes from the end of extra time (117'). Necib's slightly deflected shot gave FRA the lead in the 64' and they tried to hold on but a GER cross in the box inadvertently touched the arm of Amel Majri in the 83' (really, tough but correct call, while in the 29' FRA did not get the benefit of a two-breasted handball like
CHN got vs NZL). Celia Sasic converted GER's 13th consecutive PK (spoiler: it won't be broken today) to send the match into extra time. In the first PK shootout this year, both teams converted on their first four PKs. Sasic then converted GER's 5th PK (and the team's 18th straight, incredible) but sub Claire Lavogez, who when you saw her take a really deep breath was never a good sign, weak shot was saved by GER's captain Nadine Angerer and GER wins the first battle of the titans with a match vs titan 1D-USA next.
The rematch of the '99 Final (2A-China) was supposed to be no contest, but
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