<p>It was a great game and a great day for the sport…</p>
<p>…and I know a lot of men who normally would not watch woman’s soccer were cheering both teams on…</p>
<p>I’m so disappointed, but Japan played well and they deserved it.</p>
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<p>It’s more frustrating than exciting - as evidenced by the fact that scoring is so rare and difficult that the Greatest Championship in the Known Universe had to be decided not by playing soccer but by shooting penalty kicks. Imagine if the Superbowl were decided by some ridiculous post-game field goal kicking contest or the NBA championship decided by a game of H-O-R-S-E after the first overtime.</p>
<p>Coureur, give it up…you are so sour…</p>
<p>Actually, Japan did NOT play well. They played well during the tournament. Today, they did not develop any kind of rythm, and only showed opportunism when our girls made boneheaded mistakes. We missed opportunities that should have been converted with a bit of composure. We also had two shots hitting the post and one the inside of the bar. Every time Japan was totally out of position. They were EXTREMELY lucky and did not play well.</p>
<p>We had bad luck but gave them the game.</p>
<p>Maybe…but that second goal by Japan was really sweet.</p>
<p>Scoring is only PART of it.</p>
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<p>The last two games the US women played, both decided by a post-game shootout, only confirmed what I’ve been saying the game lacks - OFFENSE. Scoring should not be so rare that it’s viewed as a miracle.</p>
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<p>Is a basketball game that ends in 123-100 more exciting? What do you prefer a 16-10 baseball slugfest or a … no hitter? </p>
<p>Each game has its good sides. Soccer is a game that is decided by its score, but not defined by it. However, I am not sure that people who do not know or do not want to know the game very well, will never understand why it is called the beautiful game. :)</p>
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<p>Boy I’ll say, The game is certainly not defined its score but rather by its LACK of a score. That’s why they had to dream up the shootout - because playing the actual game of soccer so often could not decide the contest.</p>
<p>Haha, Coureur, again each sport has its attractive side. Not every soccer game is great, but many are. </p>
<p>Why does the Tour de France spend almost two weeks strolling along when everyone it will be decided in the mountains? They could have a 7 day tour and be done!</p>
<p>The few goals are what often makes the game so … interesting. You can have a scoreless game that keeps you riveted to your seat for 120 minutes and decided by penalties. But, of course, that does not translate very well for the little 45 seconds report of ESPN or on the nightly news. </p>
<p>People who have filled those stadiums for a women sport do know the difference. And, millions of parents also know the difference.</p>
<p>The U.S. outplayed Japan, but that doesn’t determine who wins the game. I wish they could have finished their scoring opportunities. What a disappointment, but it WAS an exciting game/World Cup. </p>
<p>I enjoyed the way the women played the game today–on their feet, not lying on the ground writhing in pain and then suddenly up on their feet after the other team gets some kind of penalty. Go women! Lol.</p>
<p>Did they count that second goal for Japan? I thought it was an own goal off a deflection.</p>
<p>If coreur is just a hater I won’t try to change his/her mind 
, but I think soccer is like so many other sports and is more fun to watch once you know what you’re seeing. My favorite part is the footwork and balance the pllayers exhibit. And I love watching the teamwork – the overlap, a give and go. Scoring is fun, but watching how a goal develops (or doesn’t) is fun, too.</p>
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<p>I am afraid they did give it to Homare SAWA. This fifth goal gave her the Golden Boot. A bit of irony here since the deflection was off Wambach. </p>
<p>For kicks, had Wambach made that last opportunity in the 119th minute instead of kicking over the crossbar, she would have tied Sawa for that honor.</p>
<p>Sawa also won the Golden Ball, showing how fickle the voting can be.</p>
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and it looked like Solo had it off Sawa but she had no shot at the redirection. FWIW I thought this was by far the USA’s best game; they just did not finish their chances … that said got to love Japan beating Germany, Sweden, and the USA and bringing joy to Japan.</p>
<p>Concuer, do you watch and like hockey? Pretty similar set-up … the offense fails tons of times with an occational success. At this point I believe the draw of world cup soccer and stanley cup hockey is not so much the anticipation of your team scoring but the dread of the other guys scoring.</p>
<p>what the hell!!! usa choked in the pks nuf said</p>
<p>I thought both sides kicked the ball good.</p>
<p>^Profound commentary!! (smile)</p>
<p>It should have never gotten to PKs.</p>
<p>Well, we can resurrect this thread in a few years …</p>
<p>i think US might be strong in the olympics next year though, possibly another gold?</p>