Pia Sundhage Caps off 5 Amazing Years with USA 6-2 Thumping of Australia

Posted on September 20, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The USA Women’s National Team sent off their departing manager, Pia Sundhage, in style last night with a 6-2 drubbing of Australia in an international friendly. The match also resulted in the team’s 100^th goal of 2012, signifying the monumental force that America has become during the Swedish coach’s tenure. Last night was just another of the great victories for the team that won gold in the 2012 London Olympics.

Fortune fell for the American women. Two of their first three goals came from deflected shots that bounced into the corners of the goal. The Australian goalkeeper had no chance of saving those goals, and once America took the lead 3-2 early in the second half, the seal was broken and the goals just poured in.

The American team became one of the most entertaining soccer teams in the world with an energetic style that resulted in lots of goals. Players like Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan have become superstars under Sundhage’s tenure with countless goals and assists as they have claimed victories against nearly all their opposition.

In the 2011 Women’s World Cup, America claimed several exciting wins, including a fantastic result against Brazil that featured a Wambach game-tying goal in the 120^th minute and a victory in a penalty kick shootout. The final was also an exciting game, but Japan claimed the title in penalty kicks.

However, the 2012 Olympics gave America an opportunity for revenge and they got just that, defeating Japan 2-1 in the gold medal final match.

What struck me with this current women’s team was the excitement on the pitch, and this will be immensely hard for a new coach to replicate. The team won countless new fans not just with their victories, but with the exciting way they have done it. Look to the USA Canada semifinal match of the Olympics for proof of that. Morgan scored a late header in the 124^th minute to seal a 4-3 victory in a thrilling match.

Yes, Pia Sundhage will be sorely missed, but only because her presence was so great for American women’s soccer. Hopefully, we will find another great coach such as her because the current players are amazing, and they need someone great to lead them to more success. The team is at its height of talent and popularity and will hopefully battle on to more greatness under a new leader. Thanks for five great years, Pia Sundhage!

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USA Women’s Team on Verge of Olympic Medal

Posted on August 3, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With today’s 2-0 win over New Zealand, the USA Women’s soccer team advanced to the Olympic semifinals as they have now won all four of their matches at the 2012 London games. The team only needs to win one more game to earn a medal, and need only win two matches to earn the coveted gold medal and Olympic glory that would result.

The stakes are getting very high at this stage of the tournament, and the matches will become much more difficult as the team will face serious contenders. America has had a fairly simple voyage so far, with their only legitimate competition coming in the France match that they battled back to win 4-2. Since then they have easily brushed aside the likes of Columbia, North Korea, and New Zealand.

Critics will argue that the score lines of these matches that were surprising and frustratingly slim suggest that the US may not be strong enough to handle the likes of a Brazil or Japan, but I beg to differ. Although the margins of victory haven’t been astronomical, the games have never really been in question.

Goalie Hope Solo has had little work to do so far this tournament and America has dominated the matches. Also, since the games have been close the team has yet to be able to relax and lose their drive. They have survived and won a good amount of close games and will need that extra level of intensity if they are to overcome a major team in the world.

The player of the tournament so far has to be Abby Wambach. She has continued to lead the team and has scored in every match at the tournament, placing her jointly atop of the goal-scoring table through this stage of the tournament.

The upcoming matches are the defining ones, however. All the pushovers of the tournament have long since been eliminated from the Olympics and what is left are the best teams.

Facing Canada in the semifinals they will have to defend against the other leading goal scorer of the tournament in Melissa Tancredi. Canada just defeated the Great Britain side, preventing the home nation from earning a medal. Such a feat is quite impressive, and although some Americans will be excited to not have play Great Britain on their soil, Canada is no pushover either.

Looking ahead, there is a good bet that the USA would have to face Japan in the final. A 2011 World Cup final rematch would be a great challenge. Japan is an amazing side that plays fast and defends hard, similar to America’s team. Japan won that last match on penalties so it would be quite a thrilling rematch. After watching Japan defeat Brazil handedly 2-0, the defending world champions look like the team to beat if team USA is to repeat as Olympic champions.

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USA Women’s Team Continues Exciting Form in Olympics

Posted on July 26, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Women are often viewed as enigmas. The USA Women’s national team continued that belief during their opening match of the 2012 Olympics in Great Britain. Playing against a good France team, USA began horrendously by going 2-0 down in the opening minutes. However with great perseverance the team roared back to a 4-2 victory, rekindling memories of an exciting 2011 Women’s World Cup, and they are now on track to compete for a medal during these Olympics.

The spark that has repeatedly lifted America to greatness is Abby Wambach. The veteran forward is a remarkable player and is extremely good at headers. During the 2011 World Cup, she gained monumental fame for her 120^th minute header to equalize against Brazil, as well as a couple other headers including one in the semifinal vs. France, and one in the final match against Japan.

In yesterday’s match, Wambach scored a crucial header that got the US on the score sheet and began the comeback. The goal came five minute after we went down 2-0 and were appearing to crumble. Wambach displayed the type of leadership that is paramount to a team’s needs. Headed goals can come out of nowhere and her talent for scoring these types of goals in vital moments is simply amazing.

The goal gave USA a new sense of purpose. They began to play more open and were able to muster up more goals through Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd.

Alex Morgan is again playing very well, especially for her young age. She has a great calmness in front of goal that enables her to take advantage of every opportunity. She is already a superstar and will likely become the leader of this team in the future.

Although there is definite reason to criticize the USA after the way they started their first Olympic game with horrendously sloppy defending, there is an overwhelming sense of pride in how they restored the lead and won this match. With the ability to come back like they do, there is always a hope that America is never out of any game. This trait will draw fear into the opposition and will keep our confidence high.

I feel that it all starts with Wambach though. She is the defining character of this team and scores most of the important goals. I think that this will be her tournament based on the past and with the all-important header against France. Look out for her the rest of the way in Britain, because she makes women’s soccer incredibly exciting.

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