29 replies to this topic

[OctoberLady]

They just beat Brazil to advance to the semi-finals in the Women's World Cup!

[HG]

OctoberLady, on 10 July 2011 - 12:37 PM, said:

They just beat Brazil to advance to the semi-finals in the Women's World Cup!

Really? Coolness

[Chi-town_Chief]

That was insane ending to the game.

That's how we roll!

[warthog]

Wasn't the USA womens' team supposed to win it all? Or was this an upset?

[HG]

warthog, on 10 July 2011 - 09:26 PM, said:

Wasn't the USA womens' team supposed to win it all? Or was this an upset?

Brazil normally kicks the US's rear.

[AssKickingBoots]

warthog, on 10 July 2011 - 09:26 PM, said:

Wasn't the USA womens' team supposed to win it all? Or was this an upset?

Yes, but Brazil is very good (beat the US the last time they played) and the refs did just about everything they could to give Brazil the game. If you were watching the game, you'd have sworn there was no way they would win.

The US up 1-0 about 65 minutes in (I'm guessing, can't remember exact times), the refs call a red card penalty in the box. Now, looking at the replay, there probably wasn't even a foul to begin with, but that put the US one woman down for the rest of the match and gave Brazil a penalty kick, which people make probably 90% of the time in soccer.

The US goalie, Hope Solo (500 cool points for the name alone, additional points for both being hot and a badass) blocked the penalty kick and the place erupted (despite being a neutral, German crowd). Then the refs call a completely bogus penalty for a player moving before the ball was kicked. This is a penalty that almost never would have been called, like a lane violation on a free throw. Solo gets a yellow card for bitching about the call, Brazil is allowed to rekick the penalty, which they make.

...I'll tell you what, just watch the highlights:



One thing those highlights won't really tell you is that the neutral crowd spent the rest of the game actively booing the unofficial villain of the match, Marta, who spent the majority of the first half bitching at the refs and even yelling at a US player on the ground (who was legitimately fouled) for taking a dive. That earned her a yellow card.

Also, that last US goal came a couple minutes into extra time on the 2nd overtime, just barely in time to tie the game.

[AssKickingBoots]

HG, on 11 July 2011 - 06:34 AM, said:

Brazil normally kicks the US's rear.

Not really. They only won the previous match because Hope Solo wasn't allowed to play, I forget the reason. The US always has a chance to win when Solo is the keeper. She is amazing.

[Chi-town_Chief]

AssKickingBoots, on 11 July 2011 - 06:58 AM, said:

Also, that last US goal came a couple minutes into extra time on the 2nd overtime, just barely in time to tie the game.

This is one thing I never understood about soccer. Can someone explain to me how the Extra time works?

[AssKickingBoots]

Chi-town_Chief, on 11 July 2011 - 08:27 AM, said:

This is one thing I never understood about soccer. Can someone explain to me how the Extra time works?

The officials keep track of any time stoppage for things like injuries. At the end of regulation, they say about how much time is added on and keep on playing.

[Chi-town_Chief]

AssKickingBoots, on 11 July 2011 - 09:09 AM, said:

The officials keep track of any time stoppage for things like injuries. At the end of regulation, they say about how much time is added on and keep on playing.

So are the officials the only ones who know how much time is added. Anytime I watch it always seems like noone knows when it will end.

[warthog]

OK, I watched the highlights of this and now that I know that the Americans had to play with one player down for the entire end of the game, makes it even more of an incredible win. And you are right, Hope Solo is freaking smokin hot! I think I have my new favorite female sports athlete. Sorry Kim Yu-Na.

[AssKickingBoots]

Chi-town_Chief, on 11 July 2011 - 10:04 AM, said:

So are the officials the only ones who know how much time is added. Anytime I watch it always seems like noone knows when it will end.

They flash up a sign, and it might say 3 minutes for instance. That's not 3 minutes exact though, it's about 3 minutes, so only the officials know for sure the exact second it ends. Plus, sometimes there's extra time added during extra time. I think it's weird and a little archaic, but soccer will never get rid of it.

warthog, on 11 July 2011 - 10:32 AM, said:

OK, I watched the highlights of this and now that I know that the Americans had to play with one player down for the entire end of the game, makes it even more of an incredible win. And you are right, Hope Solo is freaking smokin hot! I think I have my new favorite female sports athlete. Sorry Kim Yu-Na.

She might be my favorite.



She also is the best female goalie in the game, so that helps.

[warthog]

AssKickingBoots, on 11 July 2011 - 11:13 AM, said:

They flash up a sign, and it might say 3 minutes for instance. That's not 3 minutes exact though, it's about 3 minutes, so only the officials know for sure the exact second it ends. Plus, sometimes there's extra time added during extra time. I think it's weird and a little archaic, but soccer will never get rid of it.

It's just a hard concept for us Americans to grasp. We like to know when the game is going to end, and that is the way it should be. It's just one more thing I can't stand about soccer, when the crowd and the TV audience has no clue when it might end. You even have the announcers in the booth guessing and stumbling all over themselves to figure out when it might end. That's what helps make great endings, when you know when it ends and panic sets in.

I realize they don't want to stop the game to add time to the clock, but hook the refs up to an electronic device that they can transmit the remaining gametime to the booth or another official on the sideline.

[warthog]

AssKickingBoots, on 11 July 2011 - 11:13 AM, said:

She might be my favorite.

[Los Pollos Hermanos]

HG, on 11 July 2011 - 06:34 AM, said:

Brazil normally kicks the US's rear.

The US is 24-2-2 against Brazil.

[penguin]

warthog, on 11 July 2011 - 11:26 AM, said:

It's just a hard concept for us Americans to grasp. We like to know when the game is going to end, and that is the way it should be. It's just one more thing I can't stand about soccer, when the crowd and the TV audience has no clue when it might end. You even have the announcers in the booth guessing and stumbling all over themselves to figure out when it might end. That's what helps make great endings, when you know when it ends and panic sets in.

I realize they don't want to stop the game to add time to the clock, but hook the refs up to an electronic device that they can transmit the remaining gametime to the booth or another official on the sideline.

In the pro level matches all the refs have mic's and headset in order to communicate. The AR's as well as the Fourth Official all know how much time the center is intending to add. This is not an exact number because it can change if the center thinks it is necessary.

[warthog]

warthog, on 11 July 2011 - 11:36 AM, said:

BTW, my current wallpaper, at least through the weekend. Looks good.

[AssKickingBoots]

US women just beat France 3-1 to advance to the Finals. The game was alot closer than the score made it appear. The US was up 1-0 due to a goal just 9 minutes in, when France scored in the 55th minute. France dominated much of the 2nd half, but the US scored 2 quick goals, first one off a header from a corner kick.

It would be a great story to see the US win. Should be interesting to see if they face Sweden or Japan. Japan knocked out Germany (who was considered a favorite to win it all by many) and Sweden beat the US earlier in the tournament. Either one presents potential problems and should not be underestimated.

[OctoberLady]

Here's to the ladies of the US soccer team for getting this far! Now they need to bring their A game and beat Japan to win it all. GO USA!!!!

[OctoberLady]

Too many missed opportunities for US to score. Way too many. And that's how Japan was able to stay in the game. Twice the US had the opportunity to close out the game and it didn't happen. That one penalty kick they missed was just awful. Japan simply ended up having the better team. Great moment for that country. They needed something that could lift their spirits after what they've been through and are still trying to recover from.