viewing 1-9 of 9 items found

Finalists headline Germany 2011 awards: The awards given at the 2011 Women’s World Cup heavily favour the top two teams, Japan and the United States. Japan’s Homare SAWA scored the goal that not only sent the final to penalties but also earned her the Golden Boot, with five goals and an assist. She also earns the Golden Ball as the best overall player. Abby WAMBACH of the US was awarded the Silver Ball and, with four goals and an assist, the Bronze Boot, just behind the four goals and two assists of Brazil’s MARTA. Hope SOLO of the US won the Golden Glove, the best goalkeeper award, as well as the Bronze Ball. Caitlin FOORD of Australia, a sixteen year old defensive power, won the award for the best young player, and the Japanese squad took away the Fair Play award.
[posted TUE 19 JUL 2011 – 04:05:49 UTC]

French talents join champions in All Star squad: In addition to the usual suspects from Japan and the United States, the All Star team for the 2011 Women’s World Cup features three players from début semifinalists France and a young star from Equatorial Guinea. Homare SAWA leads the Japanese contingent, including fellow midfielders Aya MIYAMA and Shinobu OHNO, plus goalkeeper Ayumi KAIHORI. Other stars include top goalkeeper Hope SOLO of the US, France’s midfield powerhouse Louisa NÉCIB, Sweden’s inspirational captain Caroline SEGER, and Eq Guinea’s starlet striker AÑONMAN.
» Goalkeepers: Ayumi Kaihori [Japan], Hope Solo [United States]
» Defenders: Saskia BARTUSIAK [Germany], Sonia BOMPASTOR [France], ÉRIKA [Brazil], Laura GEORGES [France], Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT [Australia], Alex SCOTT [England]
» Defensive midfielders: Shannon BOXX [United States], Homare Sawa [Japan], Jill SCOTT [England], Caroline Seger [Sweden]
» Attacking midfielders: Añonman [Eq Guinea], Lauren CHENEY [United States], Kerstin GAREFREKES [Germany], Aya Miyama [Japan], Louisa Nécib [France], Shinobu Ohno [Japan]
» Forwards: MARTA [Brazil], Lotta SCHELIN [Sweden], Abby WAMBACH [United States]
[posted TUE 19 JUL 2011 – 04:05:39 UTC]

Day 15 recap: On the anniversary of the epic final of the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the day’s quarterfinals had much to live up to – and may have exceeded that standard.
» Sweden 03-01 Australia: The Aussies were two goals down in Augsburg after just sixteen minutes, as Therese SJÖGRAN and Lisa DAHLKVIST found net. Five minutes before the break, Ellyse PERRY pulled one back, but in the 52nd minute, a mistaken passback by Kim CARROLL gifted a clear look on goal, and Lotta SCHELIN made no mistake.
» Brazil 02-02 United States [F/OT; PK: 03-05]: The spectators in Dresden were treated to another historic Brazil-US tie that saw the Americans take the lead two minutes in on a DAIANE own goal. In the 66th minute, referee Jacqui MELKSHAM made the first of her many decisions that will draw heavy scrutiny. In a tieup between MARTA and Rachel BUEHLER, Melksham astonishingly gave not only a penalty to Brazil but a red to Buehler. CRISTIANE’s penalty was saved by Hope SOLO, but Melksham ordered a retake, apparently believing that a US player had encroached in the area. Marta took the second penalty and equalised. She then added a well taken chip to the far post early in extra time. Then, deep into stoppage time of extra time – the 122nd minute – the US, still down a woman, equalised with an Abby WAMBACH header from a perfect cross from Megan RAPINOE. This forced a penalty shootout, won by the US on the strength of Solo’s save of Daiane.
» Semifinal matchups: Japan-Sweden, France-United States
[posted SUN 10 JUL 2011 – 18:55:56 UTC]

Day 14 recap: The elimination phase of the Women’s World Cup opened with two tense quarterfinals and one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
» England 01-01 France [F/OT; PK: 03-04]: In Leverkusen, Jill SCOTT gave England the lead at the hour mark with a long blast over goalkeeper Céline DEVILLE. Two minutes from time, though, Élise BUSSAGLIA found the equaliser through a crowded eighteen yard box. Extra time produced no breakthroughs, and although Camille ABILY missed the first penalty of the shootout, all remaining French players scored. As the pressure mounted, Claire RAFFERTY missed to the right, and Faye WHITE struck the bar. Les Bleues reach the semifinals for the first time but must face the Brazil-United States winner.
» Germany 00-01 Japan [F/OT]: The host nation’s attention was on Wolfsburg, but with careful possession play and stifling defending, Japan made clear that they were not to be overlooked. The deadlock was finally broken in the 18th minute of overtime, but it was Nadeshiko substitute Karina MARUYAMA who scored past Nadine ANGERER at an impossibly tight angle. Increasingly furious attacks from the Germans were turned away by goalkeeper Ayumi KAIHORI and her well organised defense, and when the final whistle blew, Germany were out. Japan, also making their first semifinal appearance, meet the Sweden-Australia winner.
[posted SAT 09 JUL 2011 – 21:50:26 UTC]

Day 11 recap: One Nordic side goes home, while another records a historic victory, on WED 06 JUL 2011.
» Equatorial Guinea 00-03 Brazil: Brazil missed an early opportunity to take the lead, as neither ÉRIKA nor CRISTIANE could redirect a MARTA free kick into the net. But Érika and Cristiane both scored early on in the second half, and Cristiane added a penalty in stoppage time.
» Australia 02-01 Norway: The teams were tied for second in Group D, but with Australia ahead on goal difference, the Norwegians needed a win. They drew first blood in the 56th minute as Elise THORSNES scored on a free ball in the area. But Kyah SIMON immediately equalised at the other end, and she headed in a second just three minutes from time. Norway fail to reach the elimination phase of a Women’s World Cup for the first time.
» Korea DPR 00-00 Colombia: Already eliminated from Group C, these two teams leave Germany with a point each, but without scoring any goals.
» Sweden 02-01 United States: A penalty from Lisa DAHLKVIST and a deflected free kick from Nilla FISCHER put Sweden ahead by two at the interval, and despite one goal from Abby WAMBACH and a furious hunt for another, the US lost a group phase match for the first time in Women’s World Cup history. Regardless, both teams were already through to the next round.
» Quarterfinal matchups: Sweden-Australia, Brazil-United States
[posted THU 07 JUL 2011 – 00:21:31 UTC]

Day 8 recap: Open, attacking football was on show on SUN 03 JUL 2011. Pity that nobody will be talking about it.
» Australia 03-02 Equatorial Guinea: Two goals early in the second half turned the tide in the Matildas’ favour, but the talking point has been an epic fail by referee Gyoengyi GAAL. In the 16th minute, with the Aussies up 1-0, Eq Guinea defender BRUNA, believing she heard the referee’s whistle, picked up the ball in her own area. Astoundingly, Gaal stood idly by and allowed play to continue. In the end, Eq Guinea still lost and now have no chance of advancing from Group D.
» Brazil 03-00 Norway: After a slow start against Australia, MARTA served as the Brazilians’ inspiration today, with two goals and an assist. Brazil are now securely in the elimination phase, whilst Norway must defeat Australia in the last match or else the Matildas are in.
[posted SUN 03 JUL 2011 – 18:32:55 UTC]

Day 4 recap: WED 29 JUN 2011 came close to seeing an upset bigger than any in Women’s World Cup history.
» Norway 01-00 Equatorial Guinea: Both goals were under assault throughout the match, with nobody threatening more than talismanic Eq Guinea captain AÑONMAN. In the end, though, it was teenager Emilie HAAVI who finally made the breakthrough in the 84th minute.
» Brazil 01-00 Australia: In a surprising bit of role reversal, the Matildas were the more brightly attacking side throughout much of this match. ROSANA, though, saved face for Brazil with a well taken goal from the top of the area. Lisa DE VANNA had a wonderful opportunity to equalise in the 87th minute with only the keeper ANDRÉIA to beat, but she sent it over the frame. Brazil and Norway are now joint leaders of Group D.
[posted THU 30 JUN 2011 – 04:12:58 UTC]

Hosts to fight Australia, Korea Rep in Women’s Asian Cup: Though football is often a subjective game, most observers could agree that Group B of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup was the Group of Death, as hosts China PR must face off against Australia, Korea Rep, and Vietnam. The eight team tournament, to be held in Chengdu, China PR, opens on WED 19 MAY 2010 with defending Asian champions Korea DPR facing Thailand. The top three sides qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
» Group A: Korea DPR, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand
» Group B: China PR, Australia, Korea Rep, Vietnam
[posted SUN 13 DEC 2009 – 09:47:48 UTC]

Myanmar complete field for Women’s Asian Cup: The eight team field for the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup has been decided as Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam won their respective second preliminary round groups. All three did so by winning both of their matches. These teams join automatic qualifiers Australia, China PR, Japan, Korea Rep, and Korea DPR in the Women’s Asian Cup, to be held in Chengdu, China PR, next year. The top three teams in the tournament qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.
[posted WED 15 JUL 2009 – 04:38:53 UTC]

viewing 1-9 of 9 items found