Diary of A Nervous Soccer Fan

In an attempt to distract myself from my nerves in the USA womens soccer semifinal game, I have given myself a project.  Letting people see exactly what I am thinking when watching the game.  Let's see where this takes us.

Pregame: Canada coach calls out American side for being too rough.  Really?  Doesn't it always seem like the underdogs coach always says something stupid.  It's like come on.  We're sorry you are from Canada, land of hockey where soccer doesn't matter, but shut your trap.  Our response. Scoreboard...22-0-4 against Canada since 2001...Domination.

Minute 1: Thank God we aren't in our horrendous "Where's Waldo" Red and white stripped uniforms. Generally Nike can do no wrong...but this time?  Nike you did bad.

Minute 22:  Sinclair Scores...On Canada's first real chance at the goal. Don't you hate how that happens?  Your team is dominating, but somehow the other team scores first. Suddenly, we are down.  And I am panicking.  Cracking open my first beer now..this situation requires alcohol

Minute 26: Wow...Hope Solo with an insane save.  Saving USA's gold medal chances, as going down by two goals really wouldn't have been good.  And the beer is half gone...so nervous

Minute 26: I love Megan Rapinoe. She's basically me...you know, as Greg says, if I was blond, fast and a lesbian.  

Minute 30: AWWWW!! Morgan header just past the post.  American Chances: A Billion.  Canada Chances: 1.  Score, 1 to 0 in Canada's favor.  Sometimes I really do get the American aversion to soccer.

Minute 37: Abby just misses a diving header.  I just can't believe that both Marta (Brazil already eliminated) and Abby (broken leg for last Olympic run) might not get gold medals.  The two best players of this generation not golden?  Just something sad about that.

Minute 41: Is there anything worse than a horrible free kick or corner kick?  Is just like you can put it anywhere...except right at the goalie.  So what do we do?  Nicely pass it to the Canadian goalie.  And the first beer is gone...

Minute 43:  I should have listened to Greg before the game.  I was already thinking about the Finals and telling people how I might have a nervous breakdown during that game.  Greg's reaction?  "Remember Japan Megan".  To my chagrin, I brushed him off.  No way could we fail again as we did last year against Japan in the World Cup...as half time approaches with us still down I can't believe he might be right.  PLEASE USA! Don't reduce me to multiple tequila shots to console myself again!

Halftime:  I root for the US in all Olympic sports, obviously.  But what matters to me most is Women's Soccer.  I just can't believe we might not actually get to the finals where we can get our revenge on the Japanese squad over last years heartbreaking loss. 

The worst part? We should at least be tied! I mean I know you aren't going to put every opportunity away, but we've dominated in chances, coroners, and free kicks.  There's no way with we aren't going to do this...right?  For my sanity/sobriety I hope we pull it out...cross your fingers!

Minute 45: Old Trafford...I have supported Man U faithfully since I began watching the EPL.  So lend your ghosts to the aid of the USA squad and help us pull it out!  Let the 2nd half begin...

Minute 47:  Morgan completely dominated the Canadian defender and like all defenders do when beaten, she fouled Morgan.  Unfortunately, it just missed a PK.  Instead we have a free kick which comes to nothing.  But if Morgan can keep doing that, eventually she will cause enough trouble to get us a goal.  Calling it. 

Minute 48: I get it.  Canada doesn't ever beat us.  If you repeat the same stat (that Canada hasn't had a lead on us since 2003) I will  be forced to mute the commentary.  Don't make me touch that remote Brandy!

Minute 54: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! THANK YOU GOD!  Megan, my twin, curves in a corner for the tying score!  Bend it like Rapinoe! I definitely hurt my ankle celebrating, but so worth it.  And the beer drinking can slow...thank god, as I was on 3rd.

Minute 56: It's like the announcer is trying to give me a heart attack.  "The US has never failed to advance to the gold medal match."  Knock on wood! Jeez...doesn't he realize I'm nervous enough as it is?  I can't worry about countering out his jinx as well as supporting the team!

Minute 60:  First Yellow card of the match.  All it took was a Canadian mugging Wambach to produce it...wait hasn't that happened multiple times this game?  Maybe the ref just didn't see the 10 other take downs?  I'll give her the benefit of the doubt...this time.

Minute 67: Again...one shot for Canada all half.  And the shot goes in.  I can't believe they have put in both of their chances!  AWWWW!  And its time for shots...screw the beer

MInute 69: Not only is the US down...Sinclair has now caught up to Wambach for 2nd most goals all time internationally.  Abby, your turn.

MINUTE 70: MY TWIN STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!!! I LOVE MEGAN!!!! AWWWW!  I can't handle this game...literally I am pacing my apartment.  I look like a cr

Mazy person.

Minute 72: Sinclair with a hat trick...this game is going to kill me.  I can't believe our defender on the corner moved off the post...and of course just misses blocking the ball from going in.  She's no Christine Lilly.

Minute 75: First Sub of the game.  Moving to a more offensive formation for the US.  Good call.

Minute 77:  I'm not sure I've ever seen this.  A free kick within the penalty box..but it's not a penalty kick.  AND MY TWIN STRIKES AGAIN! Hits the Canadian's hands!!!! So hand ball and now we get a traditional penalty kick!

Minute 78:  ABBY!!! Calmly takes care of business and ties this up.  OMG...this might be the best game of soccer I have ever seen.  Other than the fact that I am so stressed out I can barely contain myself...and the fact my amazing TV is in danger of having a remote control thrown through it if we don't pull it out. 

Minute 81: Um how was that not a penalty kick?  The girl completely swiped Morgan in the penalty box...I guess a make up call as realistically, the hand ball that led to our goal wasn't a hand ball. 

Minute 82:  To date -- 4 beers, 2 shots.  I might be passed out before this game is completed

Minute 84: SOOOO CLOSE!  God...Morgan beautiful ball across to Abby, but Abby just can't get it on frame. And the madness continues

Minute 88: Hope Solo to the rescue! One on one, Solo stops a shot that would have won the game for Canada.  She might not have had anything to do in any of our other games, but Solo has proven her worth with a couple of insane saves this game.

Minute 90: Time added on.  Corner kick for the US.  Final play in regulation.  Can we do it?  Megan kids it...and...Abby heads it over the bar. End of regular time.  O...My...God.  Extra time.

Overtime:  All I can think?  Please let this not end in PK's, Please let this not end in PK's...

Minute 92: Game has gotten tighter.  Not as free flowing as before hand...but that's to be expected.  Everyone knows what this means.  I mean if I'm feeling this freaked out, don't know how they are feeling.  Please don't let this go to PK's, please don't let this go to PK's...

Minute 93: Beautiful ball from about midfield to Morgan...poor attempt at a finish, but great run.  First real chance of OT.

Minute 98: Sydney, super sub, JUST misses a goal.  Ball flies over post, but amazing movement within the box.  We are threatening...I can feel it. Definitely look the much more composed squad of the two...

Minute 100: AWW! Abby, as she does, wins the ball in the air in the box and guides the ball to the side of the net.  Great save by the goalie though keeps the game tied.

Minute 100: USA subs on its own corner.  Heather O'Reilly in for Cheney.  Makes sense as though Cheney has been solid, hasn't really threatened on the offensive side of the game.  O'Reilly should add another dynamic, fast attacker and keep the pressure on Canada. 

Minute 102:  Wow...scary moment.  Canadian player fouled INCHES outside the Penalty Box.  First chance for Canada.  Luckily free kick misses everyone and harmlessly rolls out of bounce. 

Minute 104: Canada pushing.  Corner kick.  They've finally sunk their teeth into the OT...going to be a tight finish to the game as neither team is going to go down easy.

Minute 105: End of first period of OT.  O God.  PLEASE NO PENALTY KICKS!!!  I mean there is not a worse way to end a great game, which this has for sure been, than penalties. 

Minute 106:  Buehler, our center back, goes down.  Canada with numbers up kicks the ball out of bounce.  I mean it was only a cramp...if I was Canada I wouldn't have kicked it out.  One of those things about soccer I don't really like.  It's too easy for people to take advantage of it...go down, and the other team has to kick it out.  And you wonder why people flop...don't make it beneficial, and they won't do it.

Minute 109: Buehler taken out...no more subs for USA.  Still, we look the fresher of the two squads as we are still sprinting, while Canada appears to be of a more defensive mindset. 

Minute 113: Morgan take out in the box.  No penalty.  Ref for sure afraid to blow a controversial whistle.  

Minute 114: EWWWW! Canadian player hyper-extends knee and can just see it bend a little wrong.  As a former soccer player, knee injuries freak me out.  I still have nightmares about the Willis McGahee injury..

Minute 117: AWWW! O'Reilly just misses goal! And the another cross and Canadian defender just gets there before Wambach!   A huge push by the US just falls short.

Minute 119: ABBY HEADER OFF POST!!! Jeez..how many chances can we have and just miss?!!!?? NO PENALTIES!!! PLEASE!!

Minute 120:  Really Brandi? comparing Canada beating USA to bannister getting first 4 min mile?

Little too much there.  Hope, feel free to call her out anytime.  You have my support.

 

Minute 120: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG! In the last two minutes of added time, MORGAN SCORES ON HEADER! Literally, seconds left and she puts it in!

 

HOLY F'ING GOD! That was the most amazing game I have ever seen in my entire life.  I mean, literally seconds left, and finally the US gets its first lead of the entire game.  Canada...congratulations on a great game.   You didn't lose the game, the US won it.