I am having extreme technical difficulties with my site. I'm not getting tech support before I leave for 2 weeks tomorrow and I spent the entire stinking day writing this thing when I should have been packing - so I'm posting the dang thing here in however many messages it takes. For the long time readers, it's like a blast to the past when this is how I'd always post over at WomensSoccerWorld. And for those of you who think this format is obnoxious as hell - I'll get it worked out and post it normally later in September, So here it is:

US 1 Japan 0

Wow – and I don’t say wow because it was a great game – it wasn’t. I say wow because once again, the US found a way to beat Brazil in an Olympic final. In 2004, they were completely outplayed, but found a way – one bad call, one smirky look and goal by Lindsay Tarpley and Brazil was derailed. In 2008 it was different. This time, the US wasn’t outplayed. Instead, Brazil decided to play right into their hands. The game was played at a ploddingly slow pace. Instead of pushing forward and using their technical players to attack at the US defense in coordinated waves, they passed slowly in the back, then inched into the midfield, then maybe they went up top if they weren’t dispossessed. On other possessions, they ploddingly passed it around in back and then in what was one of the more shocking developments of the game, started playing very direct instead of playing to Cristiane’s and Marta’s feet in a coordinated built up, swift attack. The ball came out of the sky and then it was one player against a highly organized defense and the rest of Team Brazil ball watched, waiting for that one player to do something spectacular. If the US could have written Brazil’s game plan, short of taping Marta to the bench and stealing Cristiane’s shoes, this would have been it. And the US took advantage. They didn’t play a great game, but they played as they’ve been playing all tournament (with the exception of the Norway game). They kept great shape on defense, they were very organized and relentless on double teams, and to the extent they had anything happening in the offensive third, they picked their spots and were fairly opportunistic. With the exception of the absolutely remarkable play in goal for Team USA, there really wasn’t a whole lot special about this game, other than the result and all that came with it. It was a very workmanlike performance by every player on the field. No one was spectacular, but everyone performed her role. And taking into account Brazil’s rather puzzling strategic decisions throughout the match, that’s all they needed.

Formation (4-4-2, back-front, right-left): GK – Solo; D – Mitts, Rampone, Markgraf, Chalupny; M – O’Reilly, Lloyd, Boxx (they were switching rather methodically all night – I think this is where they were at kickoff, but I looked up about 45 seconds later and they had flip flopped), Tarpley; F – Hucles, Rodriguez (and they switched some too – not quite as structured about it as the central mids were, especially since Hucles was slipping in behind Rodriguez and playing right on top of and/or alongside the midfielders). Cheney in for Tarpley and Hucles slipped back into the midfield and Cheney plays up top. Kai in for O’Reilly, Kai plays up top and Rodriguez took over on the right flank. Cox in for Rodriguez essentially to defend a corner.