A Collapse of World Class Proportion

Monday, July 18, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

There's just no other way to look at it - the US Women's World Cup soccer team choked. Big time.

But don't fret soccer fans...by the mere fact that I'm even mentioning this colossal collapse in the Women's World Cup final, you should know the sport is beginning to matter. And that in itself, could also be considered a big upset.

Sunday evening in Germany, Japan managed to shock the sports world with a 2-2 win (3-1 in penalty kicks) over the heavily-favored United States team in the women's World Cup final. In 25 previous matches, Japan had never beaten the US women on the pitch...and while that is certainly noteworthy, it's moreso the way in which Japan won the game that comes as the real surprise.

They simply out-toughed a team known for its toughness, and its overall talent.

The US had beaten Japan 2-0 two times - in separate warm-up matches prior to the start of Cup competition. Perhaps there was a small amount of over-confidence from the American side, but when you haven't won the Cup yourselves since 1999, why would there have been ANY over confidence at all? The mark of a true championship team is the ability to overcome the mental obstacles, as well as the physical ones. Let's also add to this equation another emotional factor - the devastation in Japan from the earthquakes and tsunami earlier this year. The Japanese team was riding an emotional crest into the final, one in which they perhaps didn't expect to participate in. But once there, an underdog can play with nothing to lose. And that's how the Japanese won it.

After a scoreless first half, the US took the lead on Alex Morgan's goal in the 69th minute. At that point, the US retreated into more of a possession game, rather than continue to keep the pressure on the Japanese. The strategy backfired - twice. Japan tied the match in the 80th minute on Aya Miyama's goal, which eventually forced extra time. Again, near the end of the first extra 15 minute period, US superstar Abby Wambach knocked a header into the back of the net that appeared to give the US their title...until a serious defensive lapse allowed Homare Sawa to flick home a corner kick in the 117th minute tied the match at two.

Ultimately, the match was decided by penalty kicks, after more than 120 minutes of play. And this is where the US experienced its biggest failure.

After beating Brazil on penalty kicks in earlier play, the US figured to have an advantage in this shootout as well. Yet shockingly, Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath each missed their penalty shot attempts. Hope Solo made one save for the US, and Wambach scored on her attempt, but the Japanese stunned the Americans - and the world - by holding a 3-1 advantage at the end...with Saki Kumagai knocking home the winner. Kumagai's kick not only won a World Cup for Japan, and stunned the world, but perhaps also provided a moment of national pride and relief for a country that has endured so much in 2011.

Over-confidence? Maybe. Embarrassment? Perhaps. The US team played like champs sometimes play - decently, but not good enough to finish the job. And sometimes, David gets his shot in on Goliath, or in this case, a "choke hold," and Goliath regrets not crushing David when he had the chance.