Auger9 Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 THANK YOU KARA LANG!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarrek Posted September 27, 2003 Author Share Posted September 27, 2003 It's all over ... 3-1 final Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted September 27, 2003 Share Posted September 27, 2003 good game for canada to build upon ... showed some signs of what "they're made of". and i must say, morneau was exellent this game and really showed she should be in that left back spot. timko in midfield was good too ... she left her mark in the middle. elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Bob Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 If the FIFA MatchCast thing was any indication, that game was way closer than I was hoping it would be, despite the scoreline. Mind you, that basically sums up our entire tournament to this point. I hope we're playing the WWC equivilant of the Virgin Islands in the quarter-finals or something or we might be in serious trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bxl Boy Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Very good game Bith teams deserved to go to the second round Unfortunately, there was only one that could And I won't complain it's Canada They made the mistake to let Japan control the game after the 2-1 But after the offside equalizer, they changed their way of play and made an important step to the win Great goal by Lang (on purpose or not ?) and then great stop by Swiatek, the most intensive minute of the game Sinclair very discrete but, as a great forward, at the right place at the right moment to score a decisive goal Latham... a lot of presence but a lot of gasp with the ball, but she scored the equalizer (she seemed to be more easy in difficult situations) Bizarre thing : why an Asian ref when an asiam team plays ? Next opponent : Russia or China (tomorrow 23:00 ET both team will meet in Portland, if China wins, it will be them, else it's Russia) Advantage : one day more to rest Disadvantages : opponent is first of his group, thus theoretically stronger, and won't have to travel and to adapt to the 3 hours east/west change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillium Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Elaine and i must say, morneau was exellent this game and really showed she should be in that left back spot. timko in midfield was good too ... she left her mark in the middle. elaine Even now has three days to get his team refocussed, and to ensure he knows what he wants to do against his opponent in Portland. Comment One: Geez he does a lot of directional coaching from the sideline, seems he may be overcoaching his players at this level in game situation...or is it just me ? Comment Two: Matheson has not impressed, she must be switched up next game, I liked Kiss when she came in and Burtini. Dennis is doing well as right back Morneau was full value especially as these players seemed to be able/allowed to touch the ball and control it, then to move two or three steps, look around and send a reasonalble ball. Latham...yes a great goal, but from skill or from athleticism and size ? She cant recieve a ball and hold it, if you watch a tape, count the number of times she gives up possession as she gets a pass...and yes I hate the white cleats... Swatiek....certaily looks like the number one now, she is fit Leblanc is not, she anticpates well and is willing to play a high risk game, which is needed to dominate in her box. Up front, why the hell is the Sportsnet crew..so down on Lang, are they parroting what Even has said ? Seriously she is playing her position, she is making crosses and being tough, what is not happening is any linkage to Latham when she is in, and I think the problem is Latham, I know three games three goals, but she makes many many mistakes, its a crap shoot for Pelerud, I hope he rolls the right dice on Thursday. Sit Latham for the first half, go with Lang and Sinclair up front play four in the mid, pull Matheson, make it Kiss Timko Burtini bring on Consolante. Oh..and make damn sure the team has some more meetings without the coaching crew to talk about playing together and stepping it up. We need to play an A game on Thursday today was a C, we dont have time to do anything else but get and A game, that means reducing errors, and playing players with ability to play big and skilled. We cant give up two goals and win in the next round, and we cant expect to score three or four. That of course may be Pelleruds problem a lack of ability to have his team play a controlled, patient game that relies on looking to counter and be deadly on the fewer chances the next level game will bring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 I thought we played really well today. The passion was back, we didn't panic down one and though there were some scares in the back as we nursed the lead we did the business. This is a really good Japan team. We'll need to be better Thursday, but so far so good. I wouldn't reinvent the wheel with the lineup. I was really happy to see Morneau, Timko's influence in the midfield was great and Morneau definitely added stability to the back. I agree about Matheson though, swap her for Kiss and I like our 11. Right now Latham is poaching goals, that's all that matters to me. She's not playing great, but I thought her goal today was great. Very difficult to get ball-side of the defender and then toe-poke it before the keeper got there. For a goal that was almost pure guts and desire it took a bit of skill to get it done. Swiatek was huge today. I'd give her WOTM for those two saves. Nice to see Even use more subs. Well timed too I thought. I think we should give Burtini 30 minutes a game somewhere, having players like her out there seems to calm everyone else down. Looking forward to Thursday. The women have done what I think people expected from them, now let's see if they can do the unexpected. cheers, matthew P.S. Cubs win! Cubs win! (it's been a pretty damn good day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Bxl Boy Bizarre thing : why an Asian ref when an asiam team plays ? Why not? I thought the team of officials called a very good game. I give them a 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Ref Why not? I thought the team of officials called a very good game. I give them a 10. agreed. much better than they did when canada played germany (same crew). i think the rule is if the refs are from the same country that is playing, and all three refs were korean (two from S, the other from N) ... i'm anxious to see the reuslt from tomorrow's Group D play to see who we'll end up playing on thurs. elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamiltonfan Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 when will we know who we're play and what time?? it is it going to be on sportsnet?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ed Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Although a win over Germany would have been preferable, that loss and the poor game against Argentina may be what we needed. The team has lost any cockiness (sorry) it may accumulated prior to the opener and the game today was a good character test, having to come back. I thought the move of Timko was needed and she was a presence in midfield. I've only seen Swiatek twice now with this team and she has been impressive. Good luck to the ladies next week as they could always use some, but I think they may be building a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleD Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by hamiltonfan when will we know who we're play and what time?? it is it going to be on sportsnet?? Depends on the outcome of tomorrow's China-Russia match. A Russian win or tie, we play them. A win by China, we play them. The quarterfinal game will be October 2nd in Portland. I think Sportsnet will continue following Canada in the tournament, so I guess it will be on TV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamiltonfan Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 would it be live? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red card Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Sportsnet for once is stepping up to the plate and will show both quarter-final games from Portland. They said 730 ET starting time which jives with the live starting time of the 1st game. Canada should play in the 2nd game at 1030 ET On a side note, I have to hand to the FIFA website writers. There use of the English language has been a delight in their match notes. But Dobson & Stoumbous can get on your nerves with their pedestrian language and constant repeating of the same point. At least Helen has stopped being a homer except for when it is reference to players she played with. She went overboard with the Morneau backslapping while overly critical of Lang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbin Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Here's what I don't get about how they call Lang's games. There have been at least two times that she's scored, and numerous times that she's just missed, on balls that seem at first to be crosses and then drop towards the net. Tonight's was one; there was also that long one she scored in the U19WC. I thought then, and I continue to think now, that maybe Lang has got some great control and precision, and if she's given a little room and time she can put an unexpected looping shot in on a sleeping keeper (in fairness, a keeper prepping for the cross). But tonight Gerry, for example, insisted that it was a cross that happened to drift into the net. But no one gives her that much credit. What does everyone else think? Are they errant crosses that just happen to find the net, or is she trying some pretty crazy shots there? Allez les Rouges, M@ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeta Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 Can't even think about loopy crosses finding the net past dazed 'keepers since the loss in Munich:( Bloody Hedman. Well, if they're good enough for Europe's footballer of the year, they should be good enough for our young Ms. Lang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by red card But Dobson & Stoumbous can get on your nerves with their pedestrian language and constant repeating of the same point. At least Helen has stopped being a homer except for when it is reference to players she played with. She went overboard with the Morneau backslapping while overly critical of Lang. I think I am starting to miss the days of the homerism, to tell you the truth, if tonight's telecast was anything to go by. Somebody must have told Stoumbos that she is too much of a homer & as such she is now being overly critical. I watched the match with a couple of other Voyageurs in a bar in Toronto, and while we still had some reservations about the positioning of Canadian players, we thought it was a much better performance by Canada and a much more entertaining match than the previous one. It also looked like a better effort for Canada. We could barely hear the audio of the match in the bar however, so most of the commentary passed us by at the time. We did see however that Sinclair was named Canada's player of the match. So when I got home to re-watch the match on tape, I was shocked to hear some of the criticism, especially of the strikers. Nice to see that each striker then almost immediately proceeded to score to make Dobson & Stoumbos look foolish. Even funnier, Sinclair is accused of not showing up for the match, but then they turn around at the end of the match & say she's player of the game. WTF? Make up your minds. Well enough of that, nice display by the ladies, & congrats. I think I have to disagree with taking out Matheson - she has far too much energy in midfield to take out. But I do agree with keeping Kiss, as she knows how to keep possession. With Timko back in midfield (and Morneau finally back on defence, where she should have played since game 1) we know have some height there. I would take out Neil, who (and to give Stoumbos some credit, she did point this out) doesn't have the pace to keep up and doesn't seem to be 100% fit anyway. I would also like to see Moscato get in there finally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJT Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack Oh, I forgot, Sportsnet will most likely be 10 minutes behind, anyway, so it won't really be live. No kidding. With such a great match tracker by FIFA I just end up following that more closely than the broadcast even when the latter is only 10 minutes behind. (Some games I can actually wait days to watch without first finding out the score, but for other games every minute counts!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca I agree. Give Andrea a bit of a rest and put Carmelina in. She is a tough gal that could be helpful against the tougher Ruskies or Chinawoman. And about Gerry & Helen color? commentary, I just given up. They add nothing and make the transmission sound amateurish. It was entertaining to listen to the commentary of the Galavision game broadcast. Although they tended to question Canada's persistance on using the lofted balls when on occassion a ground pass was called for. They praised Kara and Taryn a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trillium Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red card Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:I will say it again, there are deep problems inside this team, there appear to be cliques..operating and I dont think Even sees it or has any idea how to address it if he does see it. It has already been reported that there cliques developing around the university each girl plays and Even had to break up those more than once. This could be just as plain as simple as Team Canada men's in hockey. Lose against Sweden, poor performance but a win against Germany...and you know the rest of the story. quote:Nice to see that each striker then almost immediately proceeded to score to make Dobson & Stoumbos look foolish. Even funnier, Sinclair is accused of not showing up for the match, but then they turn around at the end of the match & say she's player of the game. WTF? Make up your minds. That was a classic.I really like when analysts actually get off the fence and actually say something with meat. However, that doesn't when you criticize about everything. Previous to this World Cup, she was a classic homer. Now she's made a 360 degree turn but she was way off base on a few of her criticisms of players. And she has the still bad habit of harping on the same point throughout the game even she has been proven wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auger9 Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 I believe sportsnet is showing both group C - D quarterfinal matches are they not? That goal by Lang looked briliant. She said it was a cross and she didn't even see it... All the commentators did all game was critisize her game, IMO she did pretty good. She made good playes, crosses, runs with that ball, knocked down a few japanese etc... here's some articles: http://www.canoe.ca/CalgarySports/cs.cs-09-28-0120.html Sunday, September 28, 2003 Canucks tie Japan in knots Bracelets spark crucial win By TERRY JONES, SUN MEDIA FOXBORO, Mass. -- It went from 'Go Canada' to 'No Canada' to 'O Canada.' It went from great expectations to double depression to what has to qualify as a great moment in Canadian sport as once again Christine Sinclair, Kara Lang & the gang have managed to take Canada where we've never been before. Wearing thin, black bracelets around their wrists, a piece of yarn cut from a ball during a team meeting the previous day in the name of unity, the Canadians finally put it together at the Women's World Cup. From looking like a bunch of Mrs. H. Dumpty's in two games in Columbus, Canada changed venus to beautiful new Gillette Stadium and into never-been-worn-before white uniforms, scraped themselves off the pavement and bounced back to beat Japan 3-1 before 14,358 spectators. It was a total turnaround game which suddenly puts Canada in the elite eight as the northern girls now proceed to Portland for a Thursday quarter-final elimination game against either China or Russia. And now it's all upside from here. Win in the quarter-final and Canada will be in the medal round and go to the final four, where they will play two more. "It's amazing. After everything we went through, we've finally done what we wanted to do,'' said Sinclair of getting to Portland where she plays for the NCAA champion Portland University team. "This is such a funny feeling. It's such a mixture of jubilation and relief. "Coming in, this is what we expected to do and where we expected to be. I think it's mostly relief because we finally put together a game like Canada can play at the World Cup.'' They got through the hard way. "We have been in trouble in this tournament. This team has been off balance,'' said coach Even Pellerud. "The players worked hard to regain their mental balance. This is the consequence,'' he said of a win against a team that had tied Canada 1-1 at the last World Cup. "We got back to guts, intensity and desire. It was not Canada at its best but it was Canada at its best in this tournament.'' Canada took it to the Japanese from the beginning, winning most of the possession challenges and came close when Calgarian Christine Latham headed one wide in the 18th minute. But Charmain Hooper was beat by Atlanta Beat teammate Yayoi Kobayasky, who fed her other Beat mate Homare Sawa to give Japan a 1-0 lead a minute later. Canada went into shock and didn't get back into its aggressive go-go game for several minutes. Then they did. And Sinclair fed Latham for a left-footer to tie it up in the 36th minute. "The thing that frightened me most about the game, happened,'' said Pellerud. "When they scored that first goal, we went a little bit back to the bad soccer. But we came back fast and that was a fabulous goal from our strikers.'' Sinclair said feeding Latham for her third World Cup goal was a no-brainer. "Not many Japanese players are going to out-battle Latham. All I was trying to do was put the ball near her.'' Brittany Timko launched a 49th-minute corner kick that Sinclair headed home for the lead. "I'll be thinking about that one for a while,'' said Sinclair. "That was a goal we needed. It put us ahead. I think I'll treasure that one.'' While Japan scored a goal called back on a close offside, Canada put it away 72 minutes in when Lang scored a goal she didn't even know she'd put in the net. "It was pure disbelief,'' said Lang. "It was a cross. I couldn't believe it. I looked up and heard the crowd and then saw Brittany running at me. What a way to score your first World Cup goal. I didn't see it. "It's a big a goal as I've ever scored. All those others I was playing against kids,'' said the 16-year-old. A simply sensational save by Calgary 'keeper Taryn Swiatek on a free kick by Mio Otani kept it from being a complete cliff-hanger at the end. It was bad enough as it was. A tie would have sent Canada home. "It was either go to Portland or go home to Canada,'' said Pellerud. "They came together as a team and were focused the last two days. We saw the change (Friday) evening when the energy came back in the team. You could see it in the eyes and the faces,'' he said. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/WorldCup/Women/2003/09/27/211183-cp.html Canada advances to World Cup quarters By LORI EWING FOXBORO, Mass. (CP) - Every player on the Canadian women's soccer team Saturday wore a thin black bracelet, a piece of yarn cut from a ball during a team meeting the previous day. The bracelets, to symbolize team unity, were part of an abrupt change in attitude for the Canadian squad, which shrugged off their World Cup jitters to defeat Japan 3-1 and advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in Canadian World Cup history. "It was a matter of people believing in themselves, believing in the team," said Canadian veteran Charmaine Hooper, who's making her third World Cup appearance. "This game has been a stepping stone for the next game, and our confidence in the team. "This is a great step for women's soccer in Canada." Christine Latham, with her third of the tournament, Christine Sinclair and 16-year-old Kara Lang scored for the Canadians (2-1-0) in their history-making victory. No Canadian team, men's or women's, had ever advanced out of the preliminary round of a World Cup, and in fact, no Canadian side had recorded a win until Canada toppled Argentina on Wednesday. Canada will play either China (1-0-1) or Russia (2-0-0) in Portland, Ore., on Thursday, depending on the outcome between those two teams on Sunday. "Today it was the mental part of it, we had to focus on that to get back the guts, the intensity, the desire," said coach Even Pellerud, who flashed thumbs-up to Canadian fans as he marched off the pitch. "Today it was either go west to Portland, or go home to Canada. And they reacted to that." A tie wouldn't have been enough for Canada, as Japan came into the game with a better goal differential at plus-3. And from the opening whistle Saturday, the Canadians played with far more intensity than they had in their previous two games at Columbus Crew Stadium, a 4-1 loss to Germany and lacklustre 3-0 win over 35th-ranked Argentina. "People have been a little disappointed in our first two games, but I feel this game that we just played showed the Canada that everyone has known over the last year," said Hooper, 35, who once again filled in admirably on the back line for Canada. The young Canadian squad went at the methodical Japanese with hard tackles and reckless abandon to the delight of the pro-Canadian crowd of 14,356 at Gillette Stadium - the 68,000-seat home of the NFL's New England Patriots. And after the final whistle, players lingered on the field to savour the victory, signing Canadian flags and shaking the hands of young fans. "It was like, finally we've been rewarded," said the 20-year-old Sinclair, with a grin. "The past couple of days, we've had an attitude change. I don't know if it hit us that we were in the World Cup the last two games, but you lose or tie this game and you're out. "Not one player on our team wanted to be done with this tournament, so we had to turn it around quickly." The Canadians came into this World Cup brimming with confidence and looking to prove how much better they were than the previous two World Cups, in which Canada went home without a victory. But over the course of two shaky games, their confidence plummeted. Pellerud said the turning point was a players' heart-to-heart on Friday. "We saw a change (Friday) evening, the energy was back in the team, where they had lively faces and lively eyes," said the coach who led Norway to the World Cup gold in 1995. "Today was the first day I was very optimistic. I believed in the team today. "Now this tournament is going into a new momentum, I think we turned a page there." Japan got on the scoreboard first, when Yayao Kobayashi got past Hooper and launched a cross to Homare Sawa, who one-timed it into the net in the 20th minute. "Even when we got down a goal, I just knew we could battle back, and I think that's what people are starting to realize," said Hooper. The Canadians did just that. Latham tied it up in the 36th, taking a pass from Sinclair and left-footing it into the far corner over Japan's goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago. Sinclair scored the go-ahead goal in the 49th minute with a header off a corner kick from Brittany Timko. Canada breathed a sigh of relief when Japan had a goal called back in the 66th. Mio Otani's beautiful header over Canadian 'keeper Taryn Swiatek was offside. Lang connected for her first goal of the tournament, firing a sharp-angled bullet from about 20 yards out over the head of Yamago and into the far corner in the 72nd minute. "I was pretty surprised, I didn't know it had gone in, for one," said Lang, laughing. Swiatek, who led Canada to the silver medal at the Pan American Games last month, made some terrific saves in the second half, including one on a point blank shot from Otani, as Canada held on for the victory. "I can't foresee any other goalkeeper in the world that could save that one," said Pellerud, of the save in the 72nd minute. "I didn't see it leave her foot, it was just reaction, instinct I guess, if you call it," said Swiatek. "I couldn't have asked for more really. I held onto it, which was the big thing." Beside going with Swiatek over Karina LeBlanc, Pellerud also started veterans Andrea Neil and Isabelle Morneau in place of Rhian Wilkinson and Kristina Kiss. Morneau, who'd been sidelined with a shoulder injury, hadn't started for Canada since Sept. 28, 2002. She, Hooper, Neil and Silvana Burtini, who came on as a sub in the 60th minute, are making their third World Cup appearance. "It's great to have good times finally," said Morneau. "I've been with the team since '95 and I've had some disappointment. It's not a great thing going home empty-handed." While Canada has yet to learn its opponent, spirits are high for the quarter-final matchup. "We think we can go all the way, when we're playing together as a team, we think we can beat the best teams out there," said Lang. Norway, meanwhile, strolled to a 7-1 Pool B win over South Korea in the opening game of the double-header here, and also advanced to the quarter-finals. The game tied the World Cup record for total goals scored in a game. Brazil also advanced in Pool B after a 1-1 draw with France in Washington. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/03/en/030927/1/afc.html Pellerud (CAN): “No other goalkeeper in the world could have saved that ball” Canada Head Coach Even Pellerud On the game: “We have been in trouble. We have worked really hard the last couple of days to regain the mental balance and tried to get up to speed again. This is a consequence of that hard job.” “You saw from kick-off that our shape was much better. The intensity was higher. It was never great. It was not Canada at its best, but it was its best so far this tournament.” “I think the start we had was very good. We created goal chances. I was skeptical because in the situation we have been in, you always want to score early on when you get chances. And just what I was frightened of happened, Japan came back and scored on their first goal chance. Still, I was not devastated. We created more goal chances than Japan, but they are very dangerous on counter-attacks.” On the challenges facing Japan: “The biggest problem we had was on set plays. They had some very good service on corner kicks and free kicks. Other than that we had very good control and the guts and stamina to withstand the pressure. Also, our goalkeeper made some exceptional saves in the game.” On the save of Taryn Swiatek in the 74th minute (on a free kick by Mio Otani): “The save on the free kick was incredible. She is so composed, this quiet goalkeeper. I can’t foresee another goalkeeper in the world who could save that ball.” “Our goalkeeper produced some stunning saves when we needed it. We expected more pressure in the box than we had against Argentina, but not as much as against Germany. Taryn is very good on cross balls. She is powerful and has good hands. She is quick and reacts very fast, and is very aggressive in her behavior in the goal. I went with my gut feeling and that was a good gut feeling.” On FIFA Fair Play: “I think sometimes it is easy to make fun of it, but the rules and the concepts in regard to something like tackling from the behind is good for the game.” On Charmaine Hooper’s play and leadership: “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate her attitude and her loyalty to the team, and her performance today was stunning to me.” On the team’s play in the tournament: “We had a great momentum up to Sept. 14 against Australia. I’m not sure if I can explain what happened, but it created a certain mentality in the team, and we needed to regain that mentality. Today it was either go west to Portland or go home to Canada. They came together as a team and were focused on the last two days to play with the right attitude. Mentally we had the right attitude.” “We saw a change last evening when the energy was back in the team - you could see it in their eyes and faces. It went through the team and was there today. Today I was very confident and believed in the team for the first time.” On possibly facing China in the quarter-finals: “We all regard China as a great team in Group D. But now we can see how good the other teams are and the group looks tighter than we thought originally. I don’t know that there is a weak team in that group now.” “They are a terrible team to play against, because you never get the ball. They keep the ball as long as they want, with their skill and technique. We need to stay very patient and organized and hopefully we can get the ball against all that.” “It is a very good team. Sophisticated. They can play without light. They have goalscorers. They have match-winners. They can create chances but they might not be as strong in the back as they once were, which could be a problem for them.” On the pressures facing the Canada team in the tournament: "There was a lot of pressure on us before the start of the match partly created by ourselves due to our fine performances of late. We didn't live up to our own expectations in the match against Argentina but today we did better and I think we have turned a page. Japan Head Coach Eiji Ueda "I don't think our players don't have stamina but in terms of physical size we do have some disadvantages. It's hard to deal with high balls into the box because of that and it's something we have to work on." On the game and tournament: “First of all, our team played very well. We did what we practice every day. However, we lost the game. A sad result. The Canadian team played very powerfully and very well. Playing against strong teams like Germany, Argentina and Canada, we will improve our skills and experience.” “We accept our one win and two losses, but our players played very well.” On what he told his players at halftime: “The first half was good. I told our players to keep doing well, attack from the sides and don’t commit any fouls.” Canada goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek, (CAN) On advancing out of the first round : “At this point we are going to take it game-by-game. It doesn’t matter to me who we play next. I prepare myself the same for all games. This is the biggest tournament in the world and I am just thrilled to be here.” On getting the start today: “It is surprising in that we have three capable goalkeepers that he can pick from. I was surprised that he went with me, but I’ve been preparing myself to go in at any moment, so I was ready.” Canada forward Christine Latham,(CAN) On the difference today compared to the last two WWC games: “We got more shots. More crosses, and we did a lot more offensively and defensively. Defensively we all worked hard. It wasn’t just individuals. We all worked together. It was hard for Japan to get through (our defense). We were a lot more successful with our team effort today.” Canada midfielder Kara Lang (CAN) On her response on being a part of the first Canadian team to advance this far: “We embrace what we have accomplished here, but we do know that we’ve got so much further to go.” Canada forward Christine Sinclair(CAN) “We have beaten China before. Japan and China like to keep the ball. But when we get the ball, we like to put it in the back of the net.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auger9 Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 two more http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSports/es.es-09-28-0123.html 'Gut-feeling' 'keeper wins the day for Canada, her coach By TERRY JONES, EDMONTON SUN FOXBORO, Massachusetts -- When it was over Taryn Swiatek fell on her back in perfect snow-angel position and stared up at the sky. The Calgarian was coach Even Pellerud's gut-feeling goalkeeper for the biggest game of this Women's World Cup and she gutted it out, making one save fit to frame, to give her coach the game he asked for from her. And when it was over she fell on her back with no sense of anything other than relief. "This was a big relief for everybody, for the coach, for the staff, for the players and for everybody back home,'' she said. Swiatek provided a Rolaids moment in the 74th minute when she made a stunning save on a free kick by Mio Otani. "The save on the free kick was incredible,'' said Pellerud. "She is so composed, this quiet goalkeeper. I can't foresee another goalkeeper in the world who could save that ball. She had some stunning saves and when we needed it.'' Swiatek said it was a start she wasn't expecting. "I heard I was starting at the team meeting,'' she said of the decision Pellerud waited until late the night before the game to make. ''It surprised me. We have three capable keepers.'' Karina LeBlanc played the first game against Germany. But Pellerud figured Swiatek had the perfect style to play against Argentina. After tossing and turning for a couple of nights, he decided to give her the Japan game for all the same reasons. "Taryn is very good on crossed balls. She is powerful and has good hands. She is quick and reacts very fast and is very aggressive in her behaviour in the goal. I went with my gut feeling that it was a good gut feeling.'' Swiatek wasn't expecting the call despite having registered a shutout against Argentina. "It surprised me a bit but I was prepared,'' said Swiatek. So does she go in goal again in the next one in Portland against either China or Russia, depending on the result of the late game between the two teams tonight in Portland? "At this point, I don't expect anything,'' she said. Pellerud made a couple of other moves for the big game. One, Andrea Neil returning to the lineup after missing a game with a slight hamstring pull, was expected. Another, Isabelle Morneau starting her first game since Sept. 28, 2002, and shoulder and knee surgeries, was unexpected. Out came Kristina Kiss and Rhian Wilkinson. But the key move was bringing Brittany Timko up from the back to midfield. "Our midfield had been too slow,'' said Pellerud. "Timko has faster feet.'' http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1064700607698&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064 Cup dream still alive First time in knockout round Hooper sets tone with early check CHRIS YOUNG SPORTS REPORTER FOXBORO, Mass.—In the previous couple of days they made bracelets, did dinner, held players-only meetings and wondered about the possibility of coming home with nothing more to show for this women's World Cup than dashed dreams and blown chances. Then the ball was in the air, a low line drive coming toward the Canadian box, and Charmaine Hooper went to greet it with her head down and her shoulders tensed — and bowled over Homare Sawa, Japan's sparkplug and her professional teammate in Atlanta this past season. "We're the only teammates she has now," thought Christine Sinclair, watching from her position upfield as the ball came back the other way, Hooper standing and Sawa down on the grass, stunned. After two halting displays, the message was clear and it was no surprise that Hooper was the one to deliver it, mere moments in: This was a different Canada and what a different kind of day — a 3-1 win over Japan and a ticket to the World Cup knockout round for the first time in our soccer history. "This is a great step for women's soccer in Canada," said Hooper, the 35-year-old captain. "Winning a game and getting to the second round is a great accomplishment and I know that there's a lot of girls out there that want to be in our shoes right now." It was by no means easy in their shoes, but nothing has come that way for this Team Canada. Japan went ahead 1-0 on a Sawa counterattack in the 20th minute against the run of play. A stunning five-way passing play by the precise Japanese ended in a Mio Otani goal that would have tied it at 2-2, but it was called offside by a hair. Then there was an Otani one-timer from two metres in front that Canada keeper Taryn Swiatek turned into only the most dazzling save of this competition. "Hard to believe," Canada coach Even Pellerud would say later. "She is so composed, this quiet goalkeeper. I can't foresee any other goalkeeper in the world that could have saved that one." "I couldn't have asked for more — I held on to it, too, which was the biggest thing," said a deadpan Swiatek. Going the other way, the Canadians played their game — "We think we can go all the way if we're playing at our best," said Kara Lang — and while it was direct and not nearly as pretty as Japan's, it took advantage of their physical strength and athleticism. It was determined and, for a change, confident. Down 1-0, the hangover from their previous two games was officially declared over when Christine Latham got them even on 36 minutes, taking a deft chip from Sinclair and poking it in while holding a defender off with her left arm. After the restart, goals by Sinclair on a header and Lang, on a looping cross from an acute angle that floated just under the far post, cued party time. Well, sort of. At least as much party atmosphere as is possible at cavernous Gillette Stadium, with an announced crowd of 14,356 that looked to be half that in the 68,000-capacity home of the NFL's New England Patriots. Just like that, the gloom surrounding their previous two performances was gone. "We saw a change (Friday) evening," said Pellerud. "The energy was back in the team. They had lively faces and lively eyes again. Today was the first day I was really optimistic. I believed in them today." More importantly, so did they. At the final whistle, Swiatek fell flat on her back. Lang looked around for veteran Andrea Neil, the ringleader who organized the bracelet-making session at the team hotel, every player wearing homemade black-yarn wristbands for the game. Four years ago at Giants Stadium she walked off bitterly after another Canada defeat. Someone asked her if, back then, she would ever have imagined ending up here. "No way," said Hooper. "The last couple of years, my mindset has changed. I've seen more success with this team than I'd seen in the previous 12 years. "Four years ago, I had pretty much given up. I'd assumed we'd never go anywhere." They're going somewhere now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodway Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 quote:Originally posted by The Ref And about Gerry & Helen color? commentary, I just given up. They add nothing and make the transmission sound amateurish. It was entertaining to listen to the commentary of the Galavision game broadcast. Although they tended to question Canada's persistance on using the lofted balls when on occassion a ground pass was called for. They praised Kara and Taryn a lot. The lowlight of the game for Helen and Gerry was by far the point blank chance for Hopper in the 30th minute. They ragged on her for about a minute afterwords, saying how she should have done more with the shot and how disappointed they were with her effort. When in fact the play had been blown dead before she even took the shot. The ref had called either a foul or a hand ball. And somehow neither of the two yahoo's even noticed it. They just continued to criticize Hopper for no reason. Did anyone else notice this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastcoaster Posted September 28, 2003 Share Posted September 28, 2003 I saw it too. I was pretty sure that it was called dead for a handball, and was waiting for Dobson/Stoumbos to mention it. They never did, so in the end I didnt know what was going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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