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Ugly game, right score. U.S. should have had one or two more. I think the ref should shoulder the blame for this one. Spain was overmatched and knew it. They got physical to compensate. Alex Morgan always draws defensive attention -- which is why she is so valuable as a playmaker, for stretching the defense, and as a decoy -- but in this game, she was fouled repeatedly, far past the point at which the ref should have been handing out yellows. I lost count of how many times she was knocked down. Tobin Heath was getting mugged too. That's one way to throttle an offense if the refs allow it. Spain ended up paying the price, with two U.S. goals on penalties, but the ref should have reined it in a lot earlier.

The second penalty kick was awarded on a pretty soft foul. I wouldn't have called it. But since the ref didn't blow her whistle when a U.S. player was thrown to the ground inside the box, with a strong and flagrant two handed shoulder throw, that evens out.

The best thing for the U.S. is that they dodged a bullet. Alyssa Naeher got her klutz play for this tournament out of the way. To win the tournament with as much parity as there is, the eventual champion will have to survive a subpar game and bad luck somewhere along the way. France dodged a bullet yesterday. The U.S. dodged one today. That sets up what we've all anticipated since the draw.