Abby Wambach's dramatic stoppage-time header, Hope Solo's amazing reflexes, and an incredible 10-women team effort saw the United States Women's National Team triumph over the anti-soccer tactics of Brazil and capture the nation's interest.
Unfortunately, no matter how many heroic these women perform there will be one thing that they can't triumph over.

By Jason Kuenle Oversimplifying soccer tactics, there are three basic ways to approach a match: 1) be an aggressor, 2) defend and counter, or 3) bunker and only defend. The US, under Bob Bradley, has established their game plans for dealing with 1) and 3). What remains is effectively dealing with teams that employ a defend and counter approach against the US.

- Jason Kuenle As the US talent pool has developed, the league's ability to attracted foreign players has increased, and the league generally has matured, the diversity of formations and tactics in MLS has grown. Successful tactics hinge on two primary factors: 1) the individual skills of a team's players and 2) the tactics and skills of your opponent.

Class in sports can be interpreted is many ways. Be it through behavior, performance or one's influence on a game, an individual or team can show their class to the world. There have been many exceptional teams throughout the history of soccer that have shown class on and off the field. While it's difficult to choose just one, the 1953 Hungarian National Team showed true class in a performance that had long reaching historical repercussions on the game.

The Philly Soccer Page » Damn(ing) statistics
The Union's defensive prowess this season has been nothing short of astounding, allowing only 3 goals in 7 games. The fact that each of those goals has come off of a header would be of little more than a moderate cause for concern if the offense was proving as capable of putting goals in as the defense is in keeping them out.