USA vs JAPAN (Finals)

USA played Japan in the finals on July 5th. USA had not won since 1999 and they had worked so hard to get to the finals, so this would be they're big day. I watched pregame coverage for 2 hours and the commentators all predicted that USA would win this big match. But they were saying that USA would have to keep possession and be aggressive.

In the 2nd minute, Morgan Brian earned the corner kick for USA and Megan Rapinoe (it was her 30th birthday) took the kick. Rapinoe placed the kick on the ground, and it just tipped a Japanese players foot, and Carli Lloyd  ran in, and with the out side of her foot, kicked the ball into the left corner. (First goal of the game 1-0 USA 3rd min.)

In the fourth min. Tobin Heath got taken down just out side the penalty box, and Lauren Holiday took the kick. (It was a tight space so I didn't think anything could happen like this) Holiday kicked it, Julie Johnston flicked it with her heel, and supposedly there was a hand ball by japan, but Carli Lloyd got the heel flick, and kicked it into the net and it went right through 2 Japanese players. (Second goal of the game 2-0 USA 4th min., also Carli Lloyd's 2nd goal) Commentators said Lloyd confirmed "I don't want to win a world cup so people stop talking about the '99 team, I want to win a world cup because i have dedicated my entire life to this, and my dream is to be a world champion".

 In the 13th minute, Ali Krieger sent it in for a cross to Alex Morgan, but it was headed down low by japan. But when the Japanese player headed it, it went way up in the air and Lauren Holiday ran up to it and shot it while it was in the air and the goalie's hands went up just after the ball had passed her head, and it was a GOAL by Holiday. The USA fans and players were so happy that they had scored 3 goals in the matter of 13 min. (Third goal of the game 3-0 USA 13th min.)

 Then in the 15th min. Lloyd got the ball at half field got passed a defender and noticed that Japan's goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori had stepped up a little beyond the edge of the box, so Lloyd shot the ball from half field (50 yards from the box) and Kaihori was trying to run backwards to get the ball, and she was about to trip, although she tipped it and ball kissed the left post and went in. What an amazing goal by Carli Lloyd, and it was also her 3rd goal of the game so that means she got a hat trick!!!!! (4th goal of the game 4-0 USA 15th min.) Lloyd was also the Golden Ball winner of the Women's World Cup. NOT SURPRISED! Lloyd almost scored the 5th goal when Meghan Klingenberg crossed it, and Lloyd headed it just about a couple feet from the goal it missed.

 Japan scored a goal when Kawasumi passed a straight pass to Yuki Ogimi and Julie Johnston tried to slide and did, but Ogimi turned around shot, and Hope Solo tipped the ball, though it was to fast and it went right in. (First goal of the game for Japan 4-1 USA 26th min.)

 At halftime the score was 4-1. In the second half, 51st min., Japan had a free kick about 30 feet away from the half field line, and their best player took it, and Julie Johnston was trying to head it out, except Hope Solo wasn't expecting the ball to go just beyond the goal line and in. So sadly that was an own goal by Johnston which made it 4-2. (Second goal of the game for Japan 4-2 USA 51st min.)

 Then in the 53rd minute, we got a corner kick and Lauren Holiday took it. Holiday's ball in was a little past the right post, but Morgan Brian somehow kept it in and passed it to Tobin Heath who had nobody covering her,and she smashed it into the right corner. GOAL! (5th goal for USA 5-2USA 53rd min.)

I was very pleased with the way USA played and I was very happy for them. I hope to go and cheer on USA in the next FWWC (Fifa Women's World Cup) in France 2019.

Fifa Women's World Cup

I have been watching the Fifa women's world cup for the past month, and I've watched every game that USA has played, and today is the ultimate rematch: USA vs. JAPAN. These same 2 teams had met in the finals in 2011, and now 4 years later, they meet again. I watched the semifinal JAPAN vs ENGLAND and it was a devastating loss for England at the last stoppage minute. I was sure that it would go into penalty kicks, but right at the last moment Japan crossed it, the England defender was there and she was trying to kick the ball over the crossbar, it hit the crossbar and just went over the goal line. Not to mention, when the score was 1-1, those goals were both penalty kicks.  The score ended up being 2-1 Japan. I also watched the semifinal USA vs.GERMANY. and what a game that was. It was scoreless in the first half, and in the second have USA scored their 2 goals. I thought Germany was going to score when they got a penalty shot because Julie Johnston (on our team) pulled back somebody who was about to shoot. Unfortunately Johnston got yellow carded and I don't think she can play in the finals. When Germany's best player Sasic (sounded like sausage) when up to take the kick she shot the ball and it missed the net!! After the game, commentators were saying that Hope Solo (USA goalkeeper) was using a stalling technique when she was up against a PK. Germany was heartbroken, and USA was cheering very loud, and was clearly very happy. Next, Alex Morgan (USA) was running really fast with the ball, and she fell over someone and Morgan earned a penalty kick for our team! The Germany player got yellow carded also, and Carli Lloyd was going to take the kick. Lloyd looked at the ball the whole time, so the German goalkeeper wouldn't even get an idea of where she was going to shoot the ball.  The ref blew the whistle, and Carli Lloyd drained it into the back of the net. GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The crowd went wild. It was 1-0 USA!!! Later in the game Carli Lloyd was in the box, did some great moves to beat the defenders and crossed it in the air to Kelley O'hara who tipped it in the net! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!! 2-0 USA!!!!! That was Kelley's first goal of her career, and everybody knew that USA had won the game even though thee were 15 min. left. After the game I was so happy that USA was going onto the finals, and Germany was out. And Germany was favored to win the game, but NOPE USA had once again had a shutout.

I am so excited for the game tonight vs. JAPAN. I'll be watching full pregame coverage at 5pm and the game starts at 7pm. My family and I will be cheering very loud for USA tonight and I hope they win! GO USA!!!