The ultimate underdog story, Japan takes home the gold

How's this for a great humanity story? After the devastating earthquake that took so many lives and destroyed so many homes, Japan still put together a women's soccer team to compete in the world cup and they stunned the US silent with a game saving comeback, and extra time comeback, and a 3-1 penalty kick victory.

Talk about a nerve-racking game.

It's been a long road for them, battling Germany and Sweden to get to the final against the ambiguous United States. Unlike the other teams in the World Cup, Japan had something more to fight for than just their nation. Many of the players lost friends and family in the devastation. That kind of grief wears on a player to the point that the game became a means of honoring those lost loved ones.

Their heart took them all the way to final, which was impressive enough. After all, they had nothing to lose whereas the US had a reputation to maintain.

After barely qualifying for the world cup in the first place and after their mediocre performances against France, Brazil and even back in the group stages, it was really something to finally see the US play up to their full potential.

U.S. coach Pia Sundhage gathered her team and came up with a brilliant game plan: suffocate the middle, exploit their height advantage, keep the game in front of you. It worked like a charm.

The Japanese have impressed the world with their beautiful possession game and Sundhage knew that she had to find a way to shut down Japan's lethal midfield if her team was to win the game.

And they did just that.

The Americans pressed the goal hard, playing tight in the middle, changing their lineup to include an extra midfielder to compensate for Japan's. It was the best performance I've seen the U.S. put on the entire World Cup.

They played together as a team, they disciplined themselves to keep to their positions and to the game plan of suffocating the middle, and they really proved to the world that they are worthy of their No. 1 ranking. It was the first time I've seen them play seamless possession soccer.

They just couldn't score. They squandered a boatload of chances that sailed over the crossbar, whacked the post and were frantically cleared by the rattled Japanese defense, chances they would later regret.

Japan, who have been decidedly impressive all tournament long, did not look like themselves at all. They seemed terrified all game and never really recovered. The US would not let them settle into their rhythm.

In the second half, the youngster Alex Morgan came off the bench, wormed her way behind the defense, received a perfect ball from Meagan Rapinoe, and scored a beautiful solo goal.

Japan finally stepped up their game and Aya Miyama (my favorite player for Japan) capitalized on the first bout of sloppy defending for the U.S. Rachel Buehler made a miserable effort to clear the ball in the front of the net, the ball fell to Ali Kreiger who didn't seem to know what to do with the ball so close to the goal mouth and laid it right into the path of Miyama. We're tied at 1-1.

The game went into extra time, where I thought for sure the U.S. had the advantage of endurance. Sure enough, Abby Wamback, who had been pounding at the goal all game long, did what she does best and headed the ball in (I'm really not sure she can score any other way).

But once again Japan came back, this time Homare Sawa, Japan's leader and play maker, tied it up again.

We're off to penalties. And again, I thought for sure penalties favored the U.S. They hardly ever miss and keeper Hope Solo owns her goal in a way that would make former keeper Brianna Scurry envious.

So let the nail biting begin. Shannon Box was up first. The crowd held its breath as she drilled the ball into Ayumi Kaihori's leg. First penalty missed.

Next up Aya Miyama. Solo was left flat-footed as Miyama sent the ball the other direction to put Japan up 1-0.

Then Carly Lloyd stepped up. Missed horribly. It took her a second to realize that she'd sent the ball whizzing over the crossbar (as she'd been doing all game long), covering her mouth with a hand, as stunned as the crowd.

Solo kept her team in the game by saving the next shot, giving Tobin Heath a chance to tie it up but Kaihori had other plans. She dove the right way and collected the ball firmly with both hands.

That three missed shots for the US, something simply unheard of in their long, impressive history.

Solo came up with another save and FINALLY! Wamback reminded her team how to take a penalty shot and burried hers home, giving the US a slim chance to catch up, but a chance nonetheless.

So it came down to Saki Kumagai to make history for Japan. And she did.

3-1 was the final score on penalties. And what a celebration. After going through such hardship at home, it was a great humanity story to see them honor their nation with a world cup win, to see Sawa win the golden boot with five goals in the tournament, and to see their heart and hard work rewarded.

The U.S. outplayed them, held firmly to a brilliant game plan, and played like the US team of old that won the 1999 world cup.

But I have to say, Japan winning the whole thing is a great underdog story that means so much more to them and to the world than if the U.S. had taken home the gold.

Defense sends USA to World Cup final

After barely managing a win against Brazil, the US women’s soccer team had yet another less than convincing victory against France.

The game ended 3-1 but this was one of those games where the score line does not tell half the story.

Out-possessed, out-shot and out-played, the US really had no business winning the game.

In the end, however, it was the defense that decided the game. The French midfield was superb. Between Necib, Abily and Bompastor, the French controlled the game from start to finish. The first opportunity US had on was in the 10th minute of play . . . and Lauren Cheney poked it home.

It was all France after that. The five-player midfield displayed brilliant prowess, passed circles around Carly Lloyd and Shannon Box (the weakest links of the US team), sent shots whizzing barely over the crossbar, and whacked the post more than a few times, but they didn’t put the ball in the net until the second half. Sonia Bompastor to the rescue!

France’s biggest weakness was their defense. This was where the US held their greatest advantage. With a keeper as unbelievably mobile as Hope Solo, the incessant shots by Abily and France's lone striker Delie were kept at bay.

US sweeper Christy Rampone (the player of the game in my book) kept her defense together and organized them to keep the French players in front of them instead of committing to their dribbling.

And the dribbling was pretty fantastic.

Camille Abily and Louisa Necib gave the US defense fits, dribbling three and four players at once with fancy moves that would’ve impressed the Brazilians.

And I have to take a moment to mention the individual prowess Necib. Louisa Necib . . . remember that name because she is going to be the world’s next best player. Perfect touch, perfect vision, and perfect composure, the US had a difficult time containing her.

But the US defense held strong and if they did not completely contain the French players, they did enough. The French defense did not.

In the last ten minutes of play, Wambach headed the ball home and Alex Morgan scored her first world cup goal. No offense to any of the strikers but to be honest, the goals were all results of defensive errors on France’s part.

Nevertheless, the US capitalized on France’s unfortunate weakness and despite being horribly out-played, the US defense insured the team a place in the final for the first time since 1999.

The US will face yet another tactically strong midfield team, Japan, in the final on Sunday. France and Sweden face off in the third/fourth place match on Saturday.

USA narrowly defeats Brazil in quarter final

The weekend's quarter final matches of the women's world cup were . . . unexpected. Who would've thought that Japan would give the two-time reigning champions a run for their money?

Sweden soundly defeated Australia in the only quarter final match that did not go to extra time, and France emerged victorious in a penalty shootout with England. But the match of the weekend was definitely USA and Brazil.

The game was practically decided on controversial calls by the referee. Honestly, as far as play, the game could've gone either way. The USA trumped Brazil in team work and chemistry, but they were no match for the individual flare of the Brazilians.

In the second minute of play, Brazilian defender Daiane scored an unfortunate own goal, putting the Americans up for the entire first half.

The second half was where all the controversy happened. USA defender Rachel Beuhler had no choice but to pull Marta down in the box or the world's best female player would definitely have tied the game. Obvious foul. Obvious penalty. But a straight red card? I'm not sure it was even a yellow.

Christiane lined up to take the penalty, but USA keeper Hope Solo saved it (I still can't believe how good she is at saving penalty kicks). The referee whistled a re-kick.

Now, initially no one knew why. It came out later in the game that there was some encroachment by an American player . . . maybe, possibly, by a mere few inches, Wambach kind of encroached a second before the shot was taken.

In any case, Marta took the second shot. She missed a vital penalty in the last world cup final against Germany . . . but she was not about to miss again. With the game tied at 1-1, the USA down to 10 players and Brazil finally feeling their thunder, it was looking pretty bleak for the USA.

And then it got even worse.

In the first few minutes of extra time, an offside call was not called and Marta scored a tricky goal off of it. Unfortunately it does happen in soccer and you just kind of deal with it . . . And it was one pretty goal.

By the second half of extra time, with Brazil up 2-1, the USA could not wait any longer. They had no choice but to gun at Brazil with everything they had. And they did. In the end, with 10 players, USA outlasted Brazil and Abby Wambach headed the ball home in the extra time of extra time. Literally at the last possible second.

On to penalty kicks.

Poor Daiane, the same person who scored the own goal, missed her penalty and the USA scored all five of theirs.

Though the USA beat the mighty Brazilians (and I'm going to miss watch Marta), they're still missing something. I just don't think they have what they need to win this world cup. Sweden out classed them and if they face Sweden again, I think they will lose again for the same reason.

USA will play France in the semifinals on Wednesday and we will see if they stand to an organized midfield, something Brazil lacked but Sweden dominated.

Japan will play Sweden on Wednesday.

United States to face Brazil in quarter finals

With the round of 16 concluded, there are only eight teams left in the women's world cup. The quarter finals schedule is all set and ready to go for this weekend and some of the match-ups promise to be good games.

Germany, the defending champions, collected all nine points in their group after defeating a very impressive looking French side 4-2. German's star player Birgit Prinz has yet to find her form, which may be a small comfort to Japan, who they will face in the quarter finals.

Japan's impressive 4-0 win over Mexico shouted to the German's that they would not go down without a fight.

Though England made it through top in their group, their one-point victories have been less than convincing. Captain Kelly Smith has been trying to do everything herself but the team will have to tighten up in the middle to defeat the French in the quarters.

The upset of the tournament so far, the United States fell to Sweden 2-1 in a game that two Swedish goals were inaccurately called offside (they weren't even close to being offside, to be honest). Sweden showed more organization in the midfield, more patience in handling the ball, and a more creative offense, looking more like the team that reached the final in 2003.

A penalty from Lisa Dahlkvist put Sweden ahead and a second goal by Swedish captain Nilla Fischer, though it took a nasty deflection on its way, secured Sweden's group C victory and a match against Australia.

USA star striker Abby Wambach (though I personally would go with Lauren Cheney as the more impressive forward) finally ended her dry spell and scored a less then orthodox goal with her shoulder (no it was not a handball). But it wasn't enough for them to avoid a second place standing in the group.

Which wouldn't be a big deal except that their next opponent is Brazil.

Brazil is home to the best female player in the world, Marta. Named best player for the last five consecutive years (and she's only 24), Marta has already proven in this world cup that she means to lead her team to victory.

Erika's fancy goal against Equitorial Guinea (and awesome back flip celebration) opened Brazil's scoring and Christiane, an excellent striker often overshadowed by Marta, solidified the victory with two goals of her own.

The United States defense, who showed a lack of organization in the game verses Sweden, is going to need a game plan to stunt the powerful Brazilian offense.

Brazil's own lackluster defense will have to stand firm as well against Lauren Cheney's outside shots and Abby Wambach's opportunistic presence.

Catch Germany vs. Japan and England vs. France on Saturday July 9. USA vs. Brazil and Sweden vs. Australia are scheduled for Sunday the 10.

An unforgettable experience

When the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup released its schedule for the tournament, I saw the final was going to be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

I knew I had to go to the match if the Mexican national soccer team made it to the final.

As I followed the Mexican soccer team closely throughout the tournament, beating Cuba and El Salvador 5-0 and beating Costa Rica 4-1 in grouping, I knew Mexico was going to advance all the way to the final.

As the semi-finals came and I saw Mexico was going to take on Honduras and the U.S. was going to take on Panama. I knew Mexico was going to face the U.S. in the final.

At that moment everything came full circle and the ultimate fan experience I could ever have was becoming a reality.

The two countries have so much respect for each other but when it comes down to it--they both hate each other when it comes to seeing who is better in soccer.

The match was set up perfect: Mexico was favorites in the match, they were playing in Los Angeles where Mexico had the most supporters, Mexico never beat the U.S.'s "A-team" on U.S. soil and all of my favorite Mexican soccer players were playing in the match.

I do not know where to begin to say how I felt being at the match in person to witness history live.

But ...

A fight almost broke out in front of me between a American supporter and a Mexican supporter after another Mexican supporter threw a beer at a group of American supporters following a goal by the U.S.

I was six rows from the sideline and my favorite soccer players were less than 15 feet from me.

Mexico made one of the most incredible comebacks in its international soccer history, as they scored four unanswered goals following two straight goals from the U.S. to win the match 4-2.

I was feet away from the Gold Cup after Mexico ran around the field hoisting its sixth Gold Cup trophy.

The experience I had at the match was amazing and I believe it is one of my all-time memorable memories of my life.

The feeling of being Mexican is pleasant and being able to see the performance of the Mexican soccer team come back and defeat the Americans, in a sport that U.S. has dominated Mexico in, was brilliant and I was proud of the team, the country and myself because I felt the win was a sign of how hope is never lost and anything is possible.

The match was truly a dream come true for me.

I told my friend who went with me to the game, "This match might be the closes thing to the FiFA World Cup that we will ever get to experience."