Typically when teams play 2 games so close, the loser has the advantage, neither lost or won, I do not think one team even had a decided advantage, the US had a few more chances, but did nothing with it and the press of Colombia worked well, expect more of the same. This combined with the physicality of the Colombians should show the US players getting rid of the ball faster. Horan and Morgan or whoever plays their roles today must be sure to get away from the double teaming, another player getting more involved or them with better movement off the ball.
Girma deftly turns aside a Colombian attack. A pair of early fouls by Colombia, must get addressed early here today. Smith for Horan after getting called for a foul, then Demelo also called for one. The pass was a bit errant. Colombia again whistled as they run over a US player. Just wide of the area, a few yards outside of it, shot or pass, I think pass as commentator says pass. A pass would have been wide, but covered by the GK. Fox well open gets the pass then lays it back where it is played out for a US throw. Fox fouled hard from behind and another commentator sates the ref must take care of this perhaps with a card. The US has been moving the ball forward more in the first 10 minutes, before the press may begin. Horan for Smith goes end line, GK punches it out, US gets it back and Montoya goes high, through Horan. She gets a long talking to, she hit Horan in the air with her back to the defender, fully defenseless, in the NFL you get flagged for such things. Horan, the target on the restart and she just nods it high. Rodman beats one and like last game, tries to go through the other player, not around, not laying it off and is stripped. Sonnett with a good strong challenge great non call. Santos beats her mark but the US recovers then Colombia takes it back, getting it across the field. Dunn wins the ball, makes a run, now Smith has it after a long crossing ball Demelo for Horan back outside for Dunn she finds Horan but not enough on it, great ball movement on that possession, looking for the shot. The US holds and wins it, it gets played forward, then another foul. Demelo over the ball, this will be played into the area, Horan sought out again. The US get it back, Horan plays it to a covered player and it is going the other way. Murphy with an anxious moment, is unscored upon this year over a handful of games, the NJ native is soon to be married. Very questionable play by the 20 year old Colombian GK as she drives it and it goes out of touch. Demelo again for Horan who gets rocked in the area then Fox is also fouled and a Colombian player is down with medical being called for. Horan gets sandwiched but got up fast. Morgan with a great shot, an acrobatic save goes out for a corner and the GK remains down. Girma Sonnett, Horan as it goes to Morgan for her rip, for those who say she is done, are you watching? It seems it is her arm, the GK jumped as if expecting the ball to go left, reached back with her right that was way out, off her body. Holding that right elbow. And Sepulveda is in between the sticks. The corner is partially cleared, the US gets it back, plays it in now the US has a throw. Getting it up field, the Colombian defense plays it to a player with two US players and its back out again. Horan long as Morgan was not running onto the ball. A basic tenant in the game, the run determines the pass, not the other way around. Morgan began a run, then stopped, with all the offside calls on her of late, cannot really blame her. Great ball movement has it come in across the area, landing just beyond the 6 by Rodman, it goes out for a goal kick. Restrepo loses it to Fox, gives to Sonnett, Horan gets called for a professional foul. Pressure leads to Rodman who just traded sides with Smith, it goes to Morgan, she defers it goes back outside and the US win a corner. Horan found, she does get a great strike on it heading it down as she should but it was blocked. 3 US players within yards of each other, Dunn to Horan in traffic Dunn gets it again and sends to an open Horan, find space ladies. Morgan gets it in a crowd, plays it forward, a sliding player takes the ball away. Santos gets fouled by Sonnett. Montoya clipped a bit by Horan and remains down. US gets water and the others surround their injured player. Dunn far more active today than a few days ago as the whole team is playing much stronger. Rodman beats one then plays it into the feet of the next defender. Morgan gets it near the penalty mark pushes it, making space, and loses it. Morgan with a foul and a card to her, hardly the worst of fouls as she stepped on the player. Demelo holds off the defender to hit Horan. Foul and a caution for Colombia as Demelo was just outside of the area, the defender thought it was in as she looked around scared. Horan 2 yards out of the area just left of goal. Can she clear the wall, she did last meeting and cleared the goal by far as well. Into the wall, the rebound winds up atop the net, she wants a corner as 2 players in yellow are down. 44’ in another 5’ of extra time I think. From 22 yards out Demelo it does not get to its target and a US throw with yes, 5’ of added time. Foudy thinks Demelo should have had a go on goal. Another foul by Colombia, then encrochment to delay the restart, no card shown? Again Demelo with the restart, it is played over the end line for a corner. Corner for Hoan she takes it from area and a ball in for Morgan is grabbed by Sepulveda. Smith whistled for a foul at 49’. Again the ref blows play dead, hope she has a backup whistle for the 2nd half certain to be rougher still. Horan losses he ball in the defensive third but it comes out.
Colombia is playing well, the US different, having more chances to none of Colombia. Morgan getting fed, needs to get one off with a quickness.
Andrade in as is Shaw and others for this 2nd half. Shaw for Fishel and offside called as Horan was off. First shot by Colombia, the ball, right at Murphy for a corner, that finds a player for a shot, she covers the rebound as well, but offside. Rodman right into the defender, is this a new strategy I am unaware of? Fishel from Show it goes a bit high then drops down less than 4’ they combine 2x. Horan over the ball and has a shot right at the GK from 25 yards, not a high percentage shot, particularly on the ground. Shaw plays it in one player goes for it, the next should have called her off. It gets forward outside by the coner flag and the player stops causing Rodman to run into her. Andrade can’t get her defender to bite, she plays it back a bit. Colombia holding it well, plays it inside, the US clears, Colombia regains and the US plays it out of touch. Horan shields it out of bounds, Vanegas goes through her getting called for it. Horan leads the cross, it is punched but the US keeps it Rodman goes end line, finds Dunn back for Sonnett to Fox, now Shaw defended but wins the corner, great play all around by US played in to Fishel who heads it home, 1-0 USA at 57’. What an impact in 11’. Sonnet with the assist off the short corner and she makes no mistake heading it down and in. Horan in front with a great shot but the defense clears it out of play for another corner. Would have been a fast pair of goals . Sonnett is having herself a game. Fishel for Demelo parrtially deflected into the hands of the GK. Lead ball for Demelo knocks around a bit Horan then Dunn for Demelo finding Fishel, Left for Sonnett on a platter, poor shot. Huerta looking to get in on the action with Coffey. Rodman explaining the crowding of the ball on every call. Horan deadly with the first time volley from the far side. Demelo and Dunn get a breather, Horan gets the return on her hard work these last two games. Reyes in for Bahr. Cautioned is Fishel, held back from the ball by Arias, while Horan tries to recover the ball for the DFK. At 22 yards is Horan feeling herself enough to go on goal? Yes she does up and into the wall, headed out of play by the USA. Another restart for the US, it hits off a player but Sepulveda has it covered. Shaw picks out Rodman far away but she is off. Rodman again beats one, literally runs into the next defender, losing the ball. Finally Chacon is cautioned for not getting the mandated 10 yards. Thompson takes out Rodman, again busy but did not get any sort of results, they will come. Arias out Guzman in with Santos taking the captains armband. Sonnett, with an outside lead ball for Thompson she seeks Horan and it is taken away, then she gets called for a foul for pushing a player down in the area. Shaw too strong into the sun as Horan and a defender are having words. Chacon with another hard foul on Shaw as they go literally face to face. Again, Colombia slow to back off a foul, in the corner, Shaw wins a throw as she plays it against an opponent’s feet, Shaw with a cheeky shot, just wide. Thompson steals it feeds Shaw it is 3-0 at 83’. What inspired subs these 2 were. Youthful energy with tremendous skill as she played it just beyond the reach of the GK. Horan out for Sanchez at 84’, player of the game perhaps? Colombia with a late corner from a ball played in and headed over the end line by the US, Murphy off her line and it gets cleared as she gets tangled with a player. Sanchez for Thompson who gets laid out by the defender a yellow in the ref’s hand, medics are called out and cautioned is Caracas. This was a red disguised by the ref as a yellow as she lined up the player in full stride driving here shoulder into the player’s chest. Down and writhing while indicating her right lower chest, Shaw caught her with her hand, possibly her arm getting just below the rib cage, Restrepo is up. Three minutes of added time coming. Colombia not laying down make a run at 91’. Sanchez for an offside Thompson is blown down. Sanchez holds off a few, leaves for Huerta inside to Shaw who cannot turn on it.
The US should be feeling better as they did improve play in just a few days, put a number of goals away without conceeding . Colombia was in the quarters at the most recent World Cup beating Germany and getting close to beating England, the US was not nearly as successful. The Olympics are just 9 months away and they are without a coach at this time so all players are trying to put their best feet forward.