Abby Wambach's brains provided crucial assist to U.S. women's soccer's comeback against Canada

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
On Tuesday, she helped the Americans dramatically defeat Canada 4-3 in an Olympic semifinal with her brains, guile, and gamesmanship by delivering a crucial and controversial refereeing decision that left the Canadians crying.

It was no secret Canada's strategy against the deeper, more talented Americans was to slow the game down. That included, Wambach said, having goalkeeper Erin McLeod hold the ball as long as possible, even over 15 seconds at times during the first half. Soccer rules say the goalkeeper must get rid of the ball within six seconds.

During the second half, with the U.S. frantically trying to speed up the game while attempting multiple comebacks, Wambach began running near referee Christiana Pedersen and counting off the seconds that McLeod held the ball. She said she often got to 10 and into even the teens.
<snip>
The last time came in the 78th minute, with Canada trying to milk a 3-2 lead. McLeod made a save, and Wambach began counting again. "I got to 10 seconds right next to the referee, and at 10 seconds she blew the whistle," Wambach said.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/news/olympics--abby-wambach-s-brains-proved-to-be-big-assist-to-u-s--women-s-soccer-s-comeback-against-canada.html

Smart! Either it's a rule or it's not.
The article says that the Canadian goalkeeper was signaled repeatedly by the official to speed it up.
The call was rare, but not out of the blue. Unbeknownest to the fans, Wambach was continually reminding the referee of the delaying tactic.

[Rabid_Rabbit]

1. Did not see the game

but my Canadian friend was ranting and raving about this.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. Normally I would agree.

However, with Wambach counting the time the keeper was holding the ball, the official was in a bind. She tried to get the keeper to move faster, but she wasn't having much luck. When the keeper is holding the ball for 15 secs at times, there is a problem.

My problem is I think that this should have been called earlier and not at such a crucial point. There should have been no doubt that a warning was issued and a violation then called. I think the oficial was desperately trying not to call anything and then finally got fed up.

Do not ignore the officials. The keeper should have made a better attempt to speed it up while dawdling as much as possible. If you ignore what an official is telling you in some way, you run the risk of creating just such a situation that did happen. They have the power, and you better remember it. That's why Wambach just counted and didn't yell for the official to act. She was quietly trying to remind the ref and not show her up.

If this had happened to the US and I knew about the counting and interplay that wasn't apparent, I wouldn't like it. However, i would have understood it. The keeper and the coach would bear some responsibility.

[KamaAina]

2. Abby's brains plus Alex Morgan's skull

[musiclawyer]

3. the USWNT may not play pretty soccer like Japan and France

But they have good soccer IQ, understand their strenghts and are experienced.

One day we will play a pretty possession game. But right now it's route one /track meet ball that very few teams in the world can deal with.

Japan is a worthy opponenent. We shall see if the USA can exact revenge ftom last year's world cup loss.

Canada executed their gameplan well, but their subpar/ low IQ goalkeeping cost them a trip to the finals.

Remember elite soccer requires 1) brains, 2) skill, 3) fitness, and 4) athleticism ( in that order of importance). The USA is heavy on 1,3, and 4. Japan is heavy on 1, 2, and 3. But if one player lacks any of the above, that is the weak point in the chain that the opposing coach will try to expolit.