Once again, holding little or nothing back, and Nap speaking here. Under FootySF I was able to get on the pitch for at least one women’s game, and the men’s World Cup Qualifier and that is always appreciated. I haven’t been pleased since last year and the site was started in March to pick up where the old FootySF left but with an expanded emphasis on off-the trail sports that gets overlooked in the regular outlets. However, I’m still going to be at the matches, and being a supporter in the stands means being rogue in the press assignment and the option to film video, which is not allowed on the sidelines. So, the game was a good time to further experiment and to give a more artisan take. Plus I have the preference just to shoot photos and the outside of the box approach means something different.
I’ll leave the further vitriol off and just report on the match, not in one but in two parts. Plus this spot is about the fans, the fun, and the game itself. This being the usual in-game action summary, and the second one devoted to the American Outlaws, whom I owe a big thank you and gratitude.
In the final tuneup before CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying, the USA continued their test play with a 4-0 win over Chile before a crowd of 14,340 at Avaya Stadium. Despite the absence of Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe on the bench, the defending champions put on a clinic for the fans thanks to college locals Julie Ertz (Santa Clara) and Alex Morgan (Cal) in the lineup. The goal scoring was in textbook fashion thanks to Mallory Pugh and the 34th minute and Tobin Heath 5 minutes later. The loudest applause came from World Cup hero Carli Lloyd, who came in the early part of the second half and accounted for the brace with her goals on the 47th and 93rd minutes. This match was the 4th at Avaya Stadium since 2015–having previously played Ireland (2015), Romania (2016), and Canada (2017).
Chile has already qualified for the Women’s World Cup through the CONMEBOL Copa America tournament along with Brazil. As for the USA they have been drawn in with Mexico (October 4), Panama (October 7), and Trinidad and Tobago (October 10) in their group for qualifying which starts next month. The top three teams (two in the finals, plus the third place game winner) head to France while the fourth place finalist will go against Argentina in a playoff to determine who heads to the 2019 World Cup.
Photos by 3pointsport
The other half of the story (part two)…
Related:
Update 9/5: attendance added to the report.