Sales on Sounders

Good morning from West Coast. We are under way after a short IT challenge.

It’s 1-nil US

Here is starting XI for US: Solo, Krieger, Rampone, Buehler, LaPeilbert, O’Reilly, Lloyd, Lindsey, Cheney, Wambach, Rodriguez

Rampone is captain

Starting XI Colombia: Sepulveda, Montano, Gaitan, Peduzine, Arias, Dominguez, Rodallega, Ospina, Salazar, Usme, Castro

Hope Solo has a personal shut out number. Over 690 minutes. Looking untested in the first half.

O’Reilly in 12″ is the loan US goal. But . . . US should have 1 if not 2 more missing from the scoreboard. Need to calm there nerves with a brace soon. Wambach not scoring is the main story for her and US in that category.

First half ends as whole half has gone. No 2nd goal.

and we’re underway in the 2nd half

Early push is US. The cleanup defense for US is good but, Colombia does push forward a bit easier than I imagine Pia would like.

US need more poise in creating finishing chances and finishing.

That said Megan Rapino settles things a bit with the poise needed. Goal USA. It’s 2-nil

Carli Llotd with first ever US World Cup goal. Great rip outside box. Massive pace on ball. Keeper should have had it, but ball slips to back of the net. 3-nil

Rapinoe goes for goal again. Saved this time. Sepulveda is struggling in holding the ball. Making US look even more dangerous.

Tobin Heath is on for O’Reilly. May be a knock to O’Reilly’s knee. Most likely preventative. We’ll surely hear after the match. No Alex Morgan. Interesting.

Meanwhile Wambach continues to shoot and miss. Like a heavy slugger in a slump. You just get the sense she’s waiting for a bigger moment. . . I hope.

Like to see US take this opportunity to work possession.

Tobin Heath takes on 2 defenders, and looks good.

Now Wambach’s being denied has gone into bizzaro. Cross to back post on her head is perfect, but finds the body of a jumping defender looking away from her and the ball both. Unlucky.

Wambach finds another shot and just wide.

Shooting like crazy. Missing like, well crazy.

Hope Solo in Keeper purple for the US. Pretty cool.

US in white with Colombia in yellow.

Rapinoe with a massive blast off the bar.

It’s Colombian so you have to think about Valderama. Big hair in soccer like you may never see again. Loved watching him and his play was pretty good.

Wambach has made a good switch out to the right. That’s right shake it up.

Colombian players all wearing first names on the back of their kits. Unusual.

Sundhage has US in good place right now. Defense has a good strong quality to it.

I’d like to see the service into Wambach look better. Wambach’s efforts will start to look better when service into starts to come in better.

Colombia with free kick, but into the wall

10 minutes left. Keep Solo’s sheet clean.

Breakaway. Wambach and keeper converge outside keeper’s back. ball off Wambach’s knee, right at goal, but yes, finds the post. Unbelievable. Today is not a day for her to buy a lottery ticket.

Wambach goes in for the ball, keeper saves and Wambach’s no goal luck continues, and to add a little spice to it, ref shows her yellow. A rough call. Didn’t need to show the yellow there.

Situation can dictate desicion

That’s it. US 3 – Colombia nil. US needs to focus now on securing top of group. They are now 5 goals to the good.

Pampinoe lucky late not to get yellow. Was that a makeup for Wambach not needing to see yellow.

As it stands now, US is likely to face Norway. A rematch of the 90′s World Cup champions. But not decided yet.

US Women take a 3 points from Colombia. An inspired 3-nil victory. First half saw a beautiful O’Reilly strike from distance. But after the 9th minute goal the US was not able to put away a brace. The concern at half was clearly finishing chances. The US did that was Rapinoe in the second half. Still you couldn’t help feel this should have been 5 – nil or 6 – nil. Not often you get criticized for only winning 3-nil. But it’s not about beating Colombia is it? It’s getting the confidence to finish top of the group, most likely take on Norway and then have to battle Brazil. So all those little goal finishing opportunities need to get ironed out.