[sphinx]

This U.S. team is being carried by the defense, which has given up one goal in six games. Offensively they have been struggling. Jill Ellis seems to have finally relegated Abby Wambach to the bench, and the team has come out much faster and more aggressive in the last two games.

Benching Abby is a decision that should have been made three years ago. I am a great Abby Wambach fan, as she used to play here in DC and is a classic, classy, good sportsman type as a player. And no one has forgotten that she is the all-time leading scorer in international soccer. But all good things come to an end, and she has slowed with age. The team is plodding when she's in the game, and doesn't apply nearly as much pressure.

Given that they were playing the #1 team in the world, the U.S. was quite impressive in all phases of the game tonight, save two: their continuing inability to finish; and their failure to convert on an abundance of corners. They simply do not shoot the ball very well.

[kearnyirish2]

It seems a few of the teams are unable to “finish” (they have no strikers); they’ll get a good opening, and seem confused as to what to do with it.