Wambach (left), the Silver Ball winner for 2nd best player, and Solo (right), the Golden Glove winner for best goalkeeper, have no reason to hang their heads.
We start in the first half. From the first minute the US was out for blood, they led the attack when Lauren Cheney decided to shoot rather than pass to a wide open Abby Wambach in front of the net. These chances were plentiful in the first forty-five minutes, but the US failed to cash in on these opportunities. However, it was evident that the United States was the much better team, that much is certain. Despite the failed attempts in the first half, and the beginning of the second for that matter, the US struck first blood when Megan Rapinoe launched a perfect ball up to the beautiful Alex Morgan, who rifled a shot past the goalkeeper into the right side of the net. It seemed then like the US was well on its way to its first World Cup since 1999.
However, destiny had other plans. They simply ran into a team that was playing for much more than themselves in the Japanese. A land ravaged by earthquakes and tsunamis, a few players on the Japanese team weren't even sure they'd be able to compete due to the amount of work that they had to take care of on the home front. With an entire nation's prayers and emotions on their back the Japanese were able to do just enough to win. They capitalized on a couple of US defensive miscues when it mattered the most. Much like my beloved New Orleans Saints two Super Bowls ago, they played for the people back home, and they needed it.
They were able to tie it at one on a botched clearing attempt by the US back line. When the gorgeous Alex Morgan found Abby Wambach's golden head in extra time, it seemed that yet again destiny was on their side, but she proved fickle. The Japanese were able to score off a corner kick, which wound up deflecting off of a US defender, buckling goalie Hope Solo, as she had no play to make. Solo did her part the entire game, as she was hung out to dry by her defense on two instances that resulted in goals.
Then, the game came down to penalty kicks. Now, I have a problem with penalty kicks for one reason. That reason is that penalty kicks do not tell us who is better. If you were to play out the penalty kicks ten times, each team would probably win five times. It comes down to a guessing game. When the shooter runs up to the ball, the goalie has to make a decision on which way to dive, and if he or she guesses wrong then there is no time to recover; the ball has already found its home in the back of the net (or missed the net completely in the case of Carli Lloyd, the US midfielder who shot high over the net on the second shot). Yes, penalty kicks are compelling and yes, they increase ratings, but no real skills are involved. The best goalies, and teams for that matter, don't always win, as was the case on Sunday. That's why I think they should either go back to the old "Golden Goal", sudden death style in their extra time, such is the case in hockey's overtime and in the NFL, where the first score wins. Such is the case in the hockey playoffs in which shootouts are left out, I feel the overtimes should continue in soccer until the first goal is scored in major tournaments like the World Cup and Olympics.
The Japanese goalie guessed right more than Hope Solo in those situations, which doesn't mean they deserved to win that game. The US still to this minute have not trailed the Japanese, and controlled the vast majority of the game. This is why our women didn't choke. They weren't outplayed. They were the victims of a tiebreaker that didn't reflect their play or skill; they were victims of destiny.
Something tells me Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan will ensure a different result next year in the Olympics in London.
-TA
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