Soccer Blogs Posts Tagged US Women's National Team

Monday Catch Up

2008-08-25T15:45:00+00:00

I have a lot I want to say, but really no desire to actually say it. Which is really lucky, because I'm sure none of you want to read it. Let's recap everything that I haven't posted about: USWNT won! It was fantastic, I'm grateful I didn't have to work Thursday morning so that I could watch it.USMNT won!

Kai takes off her shirt - Another sports bra moment for the U.S.

2008-08-22T01:21:35+00:00

Remember when Brandi Chastain took off her shirt to reveal her black sports bra following the U.S. defeat of China in the 1999 World Cup? Remember how you couldn't go anywhere without seeing the image? Natasha Kai did her impression...

Olympics

2008-08-21T17:15:00+00:00

I'll write more later, but for now, enjoy this. I know I am.

U.S. Women Withstand Withering Brazilian Attacks To Grab Olympic Gold

2008-08-21T16:17:13+00:00

Redemption for goalkeeper Hope Solo, revenge for the Americans and a delay in declaring a Brazilian women's soccer dynasty as the U.S. tenaciously hung on to win 1-0 today in China over Brazil to win the gold medal.

Game story.

The box score tells the story - including 14 corner kicks for Brazil - of the Brazilian dominance.

USA v. Brazil in Women's Gold Medal Match

2008-08-21T13:03:00+00:00

Brazil and USA face off again for the girl's gold medal match.

For those of you who watched the Women's World Cup, you know that Brazil's Marta shredded the US defense like barbecue pork; however if the US stays calm and collected on defense, they should be able to hand the multi pronged Brazilian attack.

U.S., Mexico Win WC Qualifiers, Chivas USA is Crushed and U.S. Women go For Olympic Gold at 6 a.m.

2008-08-21T06:06:44+00:00

I'm getting up to watch the 6 a.m. U.S.-Brazil Olympic women's football final.

So briefly:
*The U.S. continued its domination of Guatemala Wednesday with a 1-0 win in the first game of the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying.

*Sven Wins For Mexico.

*CONCACAF WCQ Scores.

USWNT at the Olympics and Arsenal Ladies

2008-08-19T12:20:00+00:00

First off, I'm totally excited about the USWNT. I "watched" the game at work (mostly I was doing actual work) and caught two of the four goals (and one of the two Japanese goals). From what I saw, most of the first half was pretty bad, but the team stepped it up near the end. The second half seemed much better, much faster and the team looked stronger.

US Women defeat Japan, will face Brazil for Gold

2008-08-18T15:01:00+00:00

The US Women looked impressive after a slow start against Japan this morning.

Japan took an early 1-0 lead before the US shook the cobwebs out and got down to business. Heather Mitts looked great (ahem) pushing in to the attack from her right fullback position and Lori Chalupny made life miserable for Japan as well.

Olympics Final Result: U.S.-Japan

2008-08-18T14:59:45+00:00

The U.S. women wore down Japan, 4-2, to set up a rematch of the gold medal game four years ago in Athens against Brazil, which destroyed Germany, 4-1, earlier today.

The final is set for 6 a.m. Thursday on USA.

Two goals in three minutes just before half time sealed the U.S. win with Lori Chalupny beating three Japanese defenders with a solo effort for the second that sapped the life from their opponents.

US Women take on Japan in Olympic Semis

2008-08-18T11:50:00+00:00

We are less than an hour and half away from the US Women semi final kick-off against Japan, a team they defeated 1-0 in the run up competition while the other bracket's match, Brazil vs. Germany is already underway.

Some say the US girls are "lucky" that the brackets worked out in a way that put them against Japan rather than the other side's titans, but let's face it, international football has always been peppered with a bit of luck.

Olympic Soccer Semifinal: U.S.-Japan

2008-08-18T01:44:06+00:00

6 a.m. on MSNBC.

Notable:
*Japan's run in the Olympics is its best ever in a world championship and the first time it has made the semifinal of a FIFA tournament.
*The U.S. and Japan will play for the second time in 10 days after the USA's 1-0 victory on Aug. 9 in Qinhuangdao.

U.S. Women Win in Overtime at Olympics & PreSeason College Polls

2008-08-15T20:41:51+00:00

A diving header from Natasha Kai gave the U.S. a 2-1 win earlier today over Canada and sent the women to an Olympics semifinal game Monday against Japan.

Game story.

The U.S. lineup: 1-Hope Solo; 17-Lori Chalupny, 15-Kate Markgraf, 2-Heather Mitts, 3-Christie Rampone; 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 9-Heather O'Reilly (6-Natasha Kai, 91), 5-Lindsay Tarpley (13-Tobin Heath, 82); 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez (12-Lauren Cheney, 109).

the ladies and other things

2008-08-15T11:53:00+00:00

Arsenal Ladies' season begins on Sunday (for those of you living in the UK, more about tickets here.) and the BBC has a nice preview about the Ladies. Basically, this is the first time UK teams will be able to pose a challenge for them. I'm excited, because it means the league is growing, but kind of sad because this could be the end of Arsenal's dominance.

U.S. World Cup Qualifying Roster Announced & U.S. Women's Olympic Team to Play Friday

2008-08-14T20:59:40+00:00

The Galaxy's Landon Donovan will lead the U.S. against Guatemala.
Photo by Scott Varley.

Galaxy hotshot Edson Buddle - 12 goals in 15 starts this season - was overlooked yet again by U.S. Men's National Team Coach Bob Bradley today when he announced the squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Guatemala in Central America.

Scoring Fastest Goal in Women's Olympic Soccer History Propels U.S. into Quarterfinals

2008-08-12T21:57:43+00:00

Heather O'Reilly scored just 40 seconds into the game, USC striker Amy Rodriguez also scored and Torrance's Shannon Boxx was named player of the game as the U.S. crushed New Zealand (much much) earlier today 4-0 to win its group.

The U.S. needed a big win and a large Norway loss against Japan to take the group.

U.S. Women's Olympic Team-New Zealand Game Morning

2008-08-12T04:15:13+00:00

The U.S. women play New Zealand at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday on MSNBC with a quarterfinal berth on the line.

A win will clinch the second spot in the group behind Norway for the U.S., although a tie will be enough if Norway beats Japan.

The last time the two nations met, just before the 2007 Women's World Cup, the U.

Chivas USA Saturday Gameday (and U.S. Women Win)

2008-08-09T18:42:19+00:00

First off, the U.S. Women defeated Japan 1-0 overnight at the Olympics.

USC's Amy Rodriguez got her surprise first start of the Olympics over Natasha Kai. Here's Coach Pia Sundhage on why she made the move:

"The reason for A-Rod instead of Kai was her speed. That was crucial when we looked at the way Japan plays.

First off, I love cycling. A lot. I love football, a lot. But I have to work. A

2008-08-09T13:21:00+00:00

First off, I love cycling. A lot. I love football, a lot. But I have to work. A lot. Those student loans won't pay themselves off (wouldn't that be great). But, if I didn't have to work, I probably would have stayed up all night. Because the Olympics Men's Road Race (you know, cycling) that started at 11 pm?

U.S. Women's Olympic Team, um, Gamenight

2008-08-09T06:59:49+00:00

The U.S. Men's Olympic Team apparently walked in the Olympic opening ceremonies Friday (although I didn't see them and it just ended), but the women were otherwise engaged with their second group game against Japan in about two hours (live at 2 a.m. on USA).

Said Torrance Olympian Shannon Boxx after watching the ceremonies on TV (like we did):

"I thought the beginning was amazing.

A Soccer Soldier Dies (and your weekend TV options)

2008-08-08T16:38:44+00:00

This puts things in perspective.

While I was relaxing by a San Diego pool much of this week, a member of the LA Riot Squad was dying so I could do that.

My condolences to Gunner and the Riot Squad.

The memorial service is Tuesday.

Your weekend soccer options:

Saturday
2 a.

Essential Olympic Soccer Web sites - & a Trivia Challenge

2008-08-07T21:59:55+00:00

Even though the men's and women's Olympic soccer tournamanets are already under way, the games proper begin Friday.

Before we get to some suggested Web sites to maximize your Olympic soccer experience, here's a trivia question for you: what percentage of the 18-player U.S. Men's Olympic roster has ties to Southern California?

Olympic soccer (and pseudo MLS)

2008-08-07T20:27:00+00:00

Wednesday, I watched almost all of the US Women's Olympics team and ... They sucked. I don't know what was wrong, but they were terrible. And, really, it started as soon as they stepped on the field. The starting line up was odd and then two goals in five minutes from Norway was even odder. I believe the first one was Solo's fault, but not the second.

U.S. Women Lose Olympic Opener & More

2008-08-06T18:32:18+00:00

The biggest surprise in this game might be that Lawndale's Kei Kamara actually found the net for Houston. The second biggest surprise: so did Houston's Nate Jaqua, the former goal-averse Galaxy forward.

The attendance without any Mexican teams involved in the final: just 9,232

*From the (edited) Galaxy press release:

reserve goalkeeper Charles Alamo and midfielder Michael Gavin each suffered serious injuries in Sunday night's reserve game in San Jose (a 1-0 loss) and will miss extended periods of time.

USA women fall to Norway in Olympic opener

2008-08-06T16:57:41+00:00

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Four minutes, two goals, one stunning loss.

The U.S. women's Olympic team got off to a terrible start on Wednesday, giving up two goals in the first four minutes as Norway shut down the Americans, 2-0, in the opening match of the tournament.

U.S. Women's Olympic Team: The Weakest Link

2008-08-05T04:23:36+00:00

Heather Mitts
Photo by Scott Varley

Is the knee.

(This article appeared in the Daily Breeze health section today).

Heather Mitts should know..

The U.S. opens the Olympic tournament against Norway at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday live on MSNBC.

Abby Wambach Speaks

2008-07-22T01:26:54+00:00

Hermosa Beach resident Abby Wambach spoke to reporters today for the first time since breaking her leg in the final U.S. game before the Olympics July 16 against Brazil.

Here's what she said she thought about when the injury occurred:

"I realized in that moment and accepted in that moment that my Olympic dreams were not going to be what I had planned.

Friday Football Weekend Preview: Becks, SuperLiga & More

2008-07-18T15:54:42+00:00

Another soccer-filled weekend is on tap, so let's get to it.

*The Galaxy are out of town in New York where Claudio Reyna retired this week and the Red Bulls signed two South American midfielders who could make their debuts Saturday.

The game airs live at 3:30 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel and a crowd of more than 45,000 is expected to turn out largely to see David Beckham who continues to prove why he's nicknamed Golden Balls.

A Bullet Point Day

2008-07-17T22:19:00+00:00

In the scheme of things, what's important to me today does not at all relate to football (these things are the Tour de France and all of today's excitement). But, as with the world, things move on regardless of how much cycling I watch. Bullet points. Hleb left Arsenal -- good riddance. I am glad to be rid of him.

Abby Wambach Breaks Leg in Win Over Brazil

2008-07-17T13:11:00+00:00

In sad news for the US Women's National Team, their goalscoring centerpiece and all around tough as nails competitor, Abby Wambach, broke both the fibula and tibia of her left leg in a violent collision with Brazil's Andreia Rosa.

The article from Yahoo Sports has Abby quoted from the emergency room as saying, "I want to thank all the fans, the doctors, the players on the team and Tasha Kai for scoring the winning goal.

Heartbreak for US women

2008-07-17T12:40:00+00:00

The United States defeated Brazil 1-0 last night in an pre-Olympics friendly, but the win was shadowed by a much worse loss when Abby Wambach went down with a broken leg in the first half. Wambach, the team's leading scorer...