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[ThiKuBC]

^@EW....so you agree with me the ref was shite and ruined the game one way or the other? 

ps-I already acknowledged Tancredi must be punished for her transgression. A ref missing that sort of behind the play crap happens all the time. What does NOT happen is the 6-second call, PK's such as were called and the wide variety of other mistakes.

We agree to disagree?

[plentyofgames]

^@EW....so you agree with me the ref was shite and ruined the game one way or the other? 

ps-I already acknowledged Tancredi must be punished for her transgression. A ref missing that sort of behind the play crap happens all the time. What does NOT happen is the 6-second call, PK's such as were called and the wide variety of other mistakes.

We agree to disagree?

You didn't ask, but I'm going to agree with EW. My biggest complaint about the ref complaints is it didn't ruin the game. It was still a great game. There were weird calls and missed calls, but the players still played hard and it was compelling from beginning to end.

[goldengoal]

USA v. Mexico (Men)? That's old hat now.  

Sad-

[goldengoal]

^@EW....so you agree with me the ref was shite and ruined the game one way or the other? 

ps-I already acknowledged Tancredi must be punished for her transgression. A ref missing that sort of behind the play crap happens all the time. What does NOT happen is the 6-second call, PK's such as were called and the wide variety of other mistakes.

We agree to disagree?

You didn't ask, but I'm going to agree with EW. My biggest complaint about the ref complaints is it didn't ruin the game. It was still a great game. There were weird calls and missed calls, but the players still played hard and it was compelling from beginning to end.

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

[plentyofgames]

^@EW....so you agree with me the ref was shite and ruined the game one way or the other? 

ps-I already acknowledged Tancredi must be punished for her transgression. A ref missing that sort of behind the play crap happens all the time. What does NOT happen is the 6-second call, PK's such as were called and the wide variety of other mistakes.

We agree to disagree?

You didn't ask, but I'm going to agree with EW. My biggest complaint about the ref complaints is it didn't ruin the game. It was still a great game. There were weird calls and missed calls, but the players still played hard and it was compelling from beginning to end.

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

Answer this question. Had the 6 second call resulted in a free kick that sailed over the top would anyone be talking about it other than it was a weird call? No. Since it resulted in a penalty (which wasn't a hard call) it's become a fodder for conspiracy theories and claims of bias. Give me a break. The refereeing was marginal but you shouldn't let it take away from the fact it was a great game and it didn't "cost" Canada the game any more than the referee allowing Tancredi to stay on the field allowed Canada to take an undeserved lead on her assist.

[tripleplay]

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

Your error is thinking that the calls were wrong just because they benefitted one team. The hand ball call was not remotely controversial. The defender turned putting her arm in the path of the ball.  As far as the time wasting, everybody knows when you do that you are taking a risk. In this case the risk didn't pay off for Canada. It's fair to say that Canada was unlucky - completely inappropriate to criticize the ref. The shameful behavior of the Canadian coach and players is the only wrongdoing in this affair.

[goldengoal]

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

Your error is thinking that the calls were wrong just because they benefitted one team. The hand ball call was not remotely controversial. The defender turned putting her arm in the path of the ball.  As far as the time wasting, everybody knows when you do that you are taking a risk. In this case the risk didn't pay off for Canada. It's fair to say that Canada was unlucky - completely inappropriate to criticize the ref. The shameful behavior of the Canadian coach and players is the only wrongdoing in this affair.

glad you agree they were bad calls- see I knew you would

[NKSoccerFan]

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it-

Yes, every GK plays a little loose with the 6-second rule.  But not everyone goes for double or triple the time - especially after being warned.  It's like going 75 instead of 65 in a 60 mph zone.  You're both speeding, but one is a lot more likely to get you a ticket.

Perhaps the real issue is that the rule isn't being enforced often enough, not that it was actually called this time.

It's not the refs fault that the Canadian player followed it up by putting her elbow where it didn't belong.

 

[tripleplay]

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

Your error is thinking that the calls were wrong just because they benefitted one team. The hand ball call was not remotely controversial. The defender turned putting her arm in the path of the ball.  As far as the time wasting, everybody knows when you do that you are taking a risk. In this case the risk didn't pay off for Canada. It's fair to say that Canada was unlucky - completely inappropriate to criticize the ref. The shameful behavior of the Canadian coach and players is the only wrongdoing in this affair.

glad you agree they were bad calls- see I knew you would

They were good calls. But even when bad calls do occur it doesn't mean that players and coaches have to be poor sports.  I hope that in the bronze medal game the refs scrutinize Canada very closely. Do not forget that there is an ideal behind the Olympics - perhaps something that the cynical world of professional soccer should be reminded of from time to time.

[goldengoal]

cmon guys, a 6-second call, when everyone does it- It almost seemed like a fast whistle to me- 2 handballs and only 1 call? Maybe it was just luck that the 2 bad calls favorite the Americans, but we cant deny that they were bad calls just because we want the US to win. Almost reminds me of youth soccer games- If it favors you, no problem, if it doesn't then we have a problem, but coaches know when it is a bad call. Sometimes it is in our favor and sometimes it is not, but we dont deny it

Your error is thinking that the calls were wrong just because they benefitted one team. The hand ball call was not remotely controversial. The defender turned putting her arm in the path of the ball.  As far as the time wasting, everybody knows when you do that you are taking a risk. In this case the risk didn't pay off for Canada. It's fair to say that Canada was unlucky - completely inappropriate to criticize the ref. The shameful behavior of the Canadian coach and players is the only wrongdoing in this affair.

glad you agree they were bad calls- see I knew you would

They were good calls. But even when bad calls do occur it doesn't mean that players and coaches have to be poor sports.  I hope that in the bronze medal game the refs scrutinize Canada very closely. Do not forget that there is an ideal behind the Olympics - perhaps something that the cynical world of professional soccer should be reminded of from time to time.

TP you keep agreeing with me- read your posts before you type

[NKSoccerFan]

The only bad call is if the referee makes a call that is contrary to the laws of the game.  For example, allowing a goal to be scored directly from a throw in would be a bad call. 

The rest are just differences of opinion.  And on the field it is the referee's opinion that counts.

 

[EWSoccer64]

Sorry, Canada, the ref was right 
by Mike Woitalla, August 7th, 2012 2:40AM 
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TAGS:  Canada, Olympics, Referees, Women's National Team 

 


Many were surprised -– and Canadians were outraged –- that Norwegian referee Christina Pedersen awarded the USA an indirect free kick because Canadian keeper Erin McLeod took more than six seconds to release the ball.

The free kick led to a hand-ball call that gave the USA the penalty kick Abby Wambach converted to tie the game 3-3 in the 80th minute and enabled the Americans to defeat Canada in overtime.

“We feel like it was taken from us,” said Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who scored all three of her team’s goals. “We feel cheated.”

“We feel like we got robbed in this game,” said McLeod.

It’s easy to feel for Sinclair, coming out on the losing end after such a terrific individual performance. But it’s McLeod who’s to blame.

She took at least 11 seconds -- from the time she got to her feet -- to punt the ball into play. Based on that alone, the call was correct.

Critics of the decision are saying it was inappropriate because they hadn’t seen such an infraction punished before. That’s certainly not Pedersen’s fault. The only question for Pedersen is why she didn’t make the call earlier.

On five occasions, beginning in the fourth minute of the game, McLeod held the ball for more than 15 seconds, well over twice the permitted time. In the 58th minute she held the ball for 17 seconds, in the 59th for 12 seconds, in the 61st for 16 seconds, in the 68th for 11 seconds.

It's reasonable to assume that Pedersen believed she finally had to take action late in the game as McLeod delayed play once again with the USA behind a goal in the 77th minute. It's also reasonable to expect an Olympic goalkeeper to be familiar with the rules. (And Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported that McLeod admitted she was warned by an assistant referee at halftime.)

Of course, we wouldn’t be talking about this if the ensuing indirect free kick hadn’t struck Marie-Eve Nault’s arm, forcing Pedersen to make one of the referee’s most difficult calls: Was it a deliberate handball?

It would take a mind-reader to know if Nault deliberately handled the ball. FIFA’s rulebook guidelines instruct the referee to take into consideration “the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand)” and “the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball).”

On the second point, Nault would have expected the ball to come her way because she was standing in front of a free kick. On the first point, her hand did move toward the ball.

The biggest problem with Pedersen’s PK call –- and a reason to sympathize with Nault –- is that had she not raised her arm she would have gotten blasted in the chest. A case can be made that she was punished for protecting herself. That, however, is not something referees, according to the FIFA Rulebook, are supposed to take into consideration.

So if there is injustice in the call, it’s the rulebook’s fault and not Pedersen’s
 

[Redkard]

I have not watched the game.

I do have one question about this hand ball that lead to the PK.

Did the player jump I'm the air prior to making contact with the ball?

[NKSoccerFan]

I have not watched the game.

I do have one question about this hand ball that lead to the PK.

Did the player jump I'm the air prior to making contact with the ball?

Yes. She was in the air when her elbow struck the ball.

Just rewatched - it's hard to tell if she was completely in the air.  Definitely moving towards the shot.

[sounderfan]

USA v. Mexico (Men)? That's old hat now.  

Sad-

Sad that a women's match is the talk of the sport, instead of a men's one? I think not! This is great stuff for the game.

The level of interest in women's soccer in The WA has never been higher.

[Independent]

Hope Solo is a great GK but she's an embarrassment off the pitch. Slagging off Sinclair's three goals...

ThiK, Hope also said this, seems genuine and respectful.


Hope Solo ?@hopesolo
"Ive said it all along...Sinclair could be the best player in the world. My hat goes off to her and the Canadian team. #fb"

It was a thoroughly captivating game.  And, frankly, a classic game just isn't a classic game with out a little refereeing controversy. 

[ThiKuBC]

At plenty and to - if the PK was so easy to call how did the ref miss Rapinoes hand ball No defenders or attackers around, going at half the speed, ref had perfect view.

Truly an enthralling game. It's unfortunate the ref had to be a part of it.

Revisionist memory alive and well here. Just like youth soccer. Love it.

[plentyofgames]

At plenty and to - if the PK was so easy to call how did the ref miss Rapinoes hand ball No defenders or attackers around, going at half the speed, ref had perfect view.

Truly an enthralling game. It's unfortunate the ref had to be a part of it.

Revisionist memory alive and well here. Just like youth soccer. Love it.

That's because it wasn't a penalty. The only people who think it was are Canadian. The plays weren't similar.

[tripleplay]

At plenty and to - if the PK was so easy to call how did the ref miss Rapinoes hand ball .

Because it hit her chest? That's legal. Nothing remotely similar to one of the most obvious hand balls you will ever see.

Overall the game was called pretty well. What errors there were clearly benefitted Canada on the whole, whose basic strategy was to be highly physical. The ref let most of it go. Canada had tons of luck in that game - getting away with fouls in the box, US missing open goals, scoring 3 goals on a total of about 6 chances etc.

[jjj]

So FIFA put a 2 match ban on Lady Andrade for punching Wambach.

Will Melissa Tancredi get the same for stomping on Carli LLoyd?

Both not caught during the game but video review showed the fouls.

nevermind; bronze medal match > penalty for stomping
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/08/melissa-tancredi-avoids-suspension-can-play-in-bronze-medal-match/

[NKSoccerFan]

I'd be a hypocrite if I complained about the ref calling Gspurning for coming off his line, when Nielsen was doing the exact same thing.  So I won't do that.  The Sounders lost because two of their stars sailed their shots over the goal.

 

[metz123]

Well...that was a hell of a gold medal game.

Lloyd was brilliant, Solo was brilliant, Wambach was brilliant (mostly covering for her defense and Boxx and running the field) and Morgan was good at what she was asked to do (she wasn't asked to come back and defend). Rapinoe was marked out of the game and then decided not to do half her job (marking on defense). Boxx was shite and obviously hadn't recovered from anything (but Pia was going to trot her out even if she had a leg amputated). The back 4 was pretty worthless and was caught ball watching way too much and dove into the tackle way too much giving up a lot of set pieces. Japan had great delivery into the box but not enough height and strength to take advantage of the fouls.

That said....the USA won and they played well enough to win. They deserved to win. They played a much more controlled game than they did against Canada, passing on the long balls in favor of trying to control the game. They resisted the urge to try and play over the top all game against the very small Japanese defense. This helped them protect the back 4 from the relentless pressure applied by Japan.

Japan is excellent and is going to get better and hopefully this will continue to be a great rivalry that spurs the USA devoting more resources to generate a next generation of technically better women players. They are gong to need them to stay pace with Japan. I saw great improvement in the quality of play from Canada and Great Britain and  Japan. Brazil regressed as did the nordic countries.

Yes...the ref absolutely blew the Tobin Heath call in the box. Arm to ball...clearly...You canadians can start on the conspiracy theory now.

[Brat Jr]

I'm think Lloyd needs more stomps to the head! KIDDING!!!
Great game!
So true what you said about Rapinoe... She reminded us of Montero just before being benched for a game or 2

[EWSoccer64]

Sort of have to disagree.   I thought that Japan outplayed the USA today.   And yes, Heat's was a clear handball, no question, and I hae no idea how the referee missed it.   Her view was not blocked, she must have had her attention directed elsewhere.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky rather than good.   (Reports say that France outplayed Canada today but lost anyway, as well.)
Lloyd was the player of the game (barely over Solo) and Solo was the player of the tournament. 
Alex Morgan played a selfish, immature, amatuerish game tonight, never passing when she should of and then when she had only a single defender to beat, backing off and making a lousy pass.

The USA needs to improve, and quickly.   And learn how to clear a ball out of the penalty.

[scugnizzo]

Rapinoe did not play well today, but overall was one of the best players on the team for these Olympics.  She was the Player of the Match against Canada, and the USA wouldn't have been playing for Gold if it wasn't for her.
She doesn't get near the publicity that the Forwards and Solo get.

Just didn't want this last game to define her overall performance.....again, she was very underrated in regard to this team's success.

[Brat Jr]

Rapinoe did not play well today, but overall was one of the best players on the team for these Olympics.  She was the Player of the Match against Canada, and the USA wouldn't have been playing for Gold if it wasn't for her.
She doesn't get near the publicity that the Forwards and Solo get.

Just didn't want this last game to define her overall performance.....again, she was very underrated in regard to this team's success.

She's still tops in this household! Well, at least for my girls! I like Abby.

[skagitcoach]

EW WROTE Solo was the player of the tournament.

Was she really the best player in the Olympic tournament? Or was it because she was constantly bailing out the US defense, which at times looked absolutely lost?

[metz123]

a  little of  both. She's clearly the best women's goalie in the game and it's also clear that the current USA back 5 has no idea how to defend against a technical team. I don't know if it's because they are all converted to defense from other positions but it's honestly not that hard to defend. It's more about brains, awareness and desire than it is about technical ability. Just take a look at a team like the Sounders. Those guys are good defenders but would be lost anywhere else on the field because they lack the skill to create and control under pressure.

[tripleplay]

EW WROTE Solo was the player of the tournament.

Was she really the best player in the Olympic tournament? Or was it because she was constantly bailing out the US defense, which at times looked absolutely lost?

Solo - clutch saves when needed. Irrelevant, even shaky, for much of the tourney. Defense - no comment. Midfield - massive improvement over World Cup. It's been a long time since you could say that a Team USA midfield completed passes, maintained possession, and scored goals. Morgan/Wambach - they squander 2 or 3 times as many chances as any other team in the world even gets, which is frustrating, but they do generate chances. Morgan immature? She's the team assist leader including creating the first goal vs. Japan and several others in the tourney. Can we please get some more immature players?

[EWSoccer64]

EW WROTE Solo was the player of the tournament.

Was she really the best player in the Olympic tournament? Or was it because she was constantly bailing out the US defense, which at times looked absolutely lost?

She was the MVP in part because she had to keep bailing out the US defense, which was mistake prone.  Without her, The USA would have lost at least a couple of games, and possibly not medalled.  No other player made the difference that she did.
And she is the best GK in the world, which she showed once again.