Many Fate Deciders in Next Round of Group Play for Women

The first day of play in the Women’s Soccer portion of the Olympics saw a huge comeback and some high score lines. But even more impressively, more parity across the board. After the opening ceremonies, the women will return to action on Saturday with all groups playing.

GROUP E
Host Great Britain started the tournament in Cardiff with a 1-0 win against New Zealand. New Zealand’s Amber Hearn gave up a free kick about five yards from the edge of the penalty area that Steph Houghton confidently finished by threading through two defenders in the wall right to the lower far post. It was the left defender’s fifth international goal.

Speaking of five goals, following New Zealand’s defeat, Brazil roared onto the pitch and pummeled Cameroon in a 5-0 decision. Superstar Marta predictably helped out with two goals in the second half, a converted penalty in the 73rd minute and a final late goal in the 88th minute. Francielle started the team off early in the 7th minute, Renata Costa followed in close pursuit three minutes later. Christiane also scored in the 78th minute.

The first round done, Brazil seems to be following right along company lines and is in very good position to take the group. They will play New Zealand next that will decide the Kiwis’ fate. Great Britain will square off against Cameroon and will be looking for a win to secure their advancement and goals to add to their differential.

Next Round Predictions: Brazil should be able to roll their inertia into the next game . A win will put them into the next round. Great Britain has hometown energy to put them past Cameroon and into the quarterfinals.

GROUP F
Japan is known for sneaky wins in the waning moments of games, but it was their first half play that took them past Canada in the first group play match.

Nahomi Kawasumi finished a composed shot deep in the box in the 33rd minute after running on to a cheeky heal pass by Shinobu Ohno. A good head shorter than the defenders around her, Aya Miyama followed up with a header in the 44th minute for Japan’s winning goal. As the ball came across, she sneaked behind the defenders and was there to capitalize when the ball dropped just over their larger frames.

Just to keep the more mathematically minded fans interested, Melissa Tancredi tried to stage a comeback by redirecting a dangerous pass across the goal by Rhian Wilkinson in the 55th minute, but the scoreline ended in Japan’s favor.

Like Brazil, Sweden started swiftly against their opponent and kept their foot on the gas to beat South Africa 4-1. Nilla Fischer drew first blood in the 7th minute. Lisa Dahlkvist and Lotta Schelin combined for a one-two punch in the 20th and 21st minute, and Schelin got a final jab in the 63rd minute. South Africa wasn’t going to go down without first taking out Sweden’s clean sheet, and did so off a goal in the 60th minute by Portia Modise.

For a team as strong as Japan, this might be considered a rather middling beginning for them, but wins only help. Sweden is in a better position goal-differential wise, but they still have to play two more top-10 teams in their group.

They will start with taking on Japan this Saturday, which will likely be the game to watch this weekend as it could decide the question of advancement positions. Canada will have a bit of a breather by playing South Africa, but absolutely needs to get a win and multiple goals to remain in the hunt.

Next Round Predictions: Japan beat Sweden 3-1 to advance to the World Cup final last year, which may give them confidence but gives Sweden even more motivation. With Japan on an upswing this last year, I’ll give them the advantage of a close match-up. If this holds true, this will guarantee their advancement and likely secure top honors in their group unless they lose to Canada in the final round of group play.

GROUP G
The US opened Group G with seemed like the plot of a family sports movie with the Yanks coming back from dropping two goals to France in the first 15 minutes of play: the first a world-class strike by Gaetane Thiney in the 12th minute followed by Marie-Laure Delie’s punishment of a defensive scramble in the 14th minute.

The hipster revolutionaries fought back with a corner kick header by Abby Wambach in the 19th minute. Alex Morgan, continuing one of the best forward hot streaks seen on the international stage, netted two for herself in the 32nd and 66th minute. The winning goal though goes to Carli Lloyd in the 56th minute by way of a long power shot.

Colombia nearly got a win by default when their game was delayed for nearly an hour by a very costly gaffe by the organizers. The North Korean players’ pictures were shown on big screens in the stadium during warm-up alongside the South Korea flag. The game was delayed for an hour as the injured team refused to take the field without getting permission from a representative of their newlywed leader. Kim Song-Hui went on to score two goals (39’ and 85’) to secure a win and firm footing in the group.

Korea DPR will next play France. This will be a do-or-die match for France for advancement opportunities considering they dropped four goals in their first match. The US will play Colombia.

Next Round Predictions: The US had no trouble managing Colombia in group play of the World Cup, so should be able to win again providing they shore up some issues France exposed in their first match. The Korea DPR vs. France match will me the more telling. Despite crumbling to the Americans, France is probably the more adaptable of the two teams and may have the edge on Saturday, but expect a close match.

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