[ml/nj]

The UN should ban women from ever refereeing anything!

I actually felt sorry for Brazil early on. The USA was getting away with murder. One one play, so far as I could see from the replays, a Brazilian girl barely touched a USA player (who tumbled down and looked like she was going to die) and the ref gave two yellows, one to the "fouler" and another to someone (Marta?) who complained. I really thought that FIFA must have told the refs that a USA win would be good for women's soccer.

But then it all turned, didn't it!

I was NOT impressed by the USA play except for the keeper, who looked to me like she could play with the boys. The number of times balls spun off a USA defender's feet inside the box was disgraceful. (Japan's defense yesterday looked quite competent I thought.)

But horse races at Suffolk Downs can be quite exciting, and this game was that and more.

ML/NJ

[kabar]

You must have been watching a different game. The referee did everything she could to give Brazil the game. The penalty kick to Marta should never have been given; the Solo save on the penalty kick was wiped out giving the Brazilians a second chance; the extra time goal by Marta was clearly an offsides; and the Brazilians should have been given more yellow cards for faking injuries.

The US did give away too many balls in dangerous positions, but I thought they deserved to win. They were the better team and they overcame so many obstacles to win. Their fitness was superior and so was their mental toughness.

This game reminded me of the famous Italy-Germany World Cup game in 1970 in Mexico City. The ebb and flow of the game made it great theater.