A Long Night in Hangzhou

Breakfast in Shanghai, bullet train to Hangzhou, hot, humid, nice hotel. Indeed it’s much easier to write about the niceties of international travel when your team has won. But tonight was just a long night in Hangzhou.

The US who had been accused of starting slow, had their first shot off within 19 seconds. The first 15 minutes of the game were the best soccer that I have seen in the tournament. Strong, aggressive and balanced, it was great! But, the team seemed to lack that click they had during the England game. The unspoken knowledge of where the other players were. Having an own goal was hard, but that wasn’t it. There was just something missing that would have made them perform as cohesive unit.




The game had some truly amazing play. Jaime Motta from ESPN just stopped by my work area and commented that at times he thought he was watching the men. There was a play that led to the final goal in the 79th minute that was set up right in front of me. I was near the top of the box, shooting with my long lens. While I would normally grab my other camera, I couldn’t take my eyes of the play.

Tina Ellertson was on Marta, Marta was facing me, she gave the ball a little tap in the air, a second tap in the air, flicked the ball behind her, turned around Tina and shot! My mouth was open, most amazing ball handling I have ever seen and literally within reach. It reminded me of the ease that Tiger Woods bounces a ball on the face of an iron. It was like watching inner-city basketball, skills that have been honed on the street and in the dirt, not in a youth soccer league. Playing soccer not because it was a sport or recreation, but because it was a way to change your life. Indeed, just like watching the men.


I am sure there will be controversy over the Coach’s decision to start Brianna Scurry in goal, but that cannot take away from the skills of the Brazilian players. Just great ball handling. I am sure there will be controversy over the officiating, lots of yellow cards flashed in a game that was nearly as brutal as North Korea or Nigeria. However, there will not be any controversy over the intensity of any of the players, nor the passion with which they play.

Tonight, my thoughts are with the team, many of whom I have gotten to know over the last three weeks.