Morgan Tallies Hat Trick, U.S. Finishes 3rd

Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach ensured the U.S. wouldn't get shutout for a second straight match as they accounted for all of the scoring in the U.S.'s 4-0 rout of rival Sweden today. Morgan scored her first ever hat trick for the U.S. giving her 5 goals in the tournament and a team high 11 in 2012. Meanwhile Wambach's goal gives her 134 for her international career moving her to within 24 of the legendary Mia Hamm. Hope Solo got the day off for the first time in 2012 giving way to Nicole Barnhart who made 7 saves in the victory.

The U.S. is now off for the rest of March, but they start April off with a pair of friendlies in Japan, first getting another crack at the Japanese on the first and then taking on 4th ranked Brazil on the third. It remains to be seen if the U.S. will be able to hold onto their number one ranking when next week's updated FIFA rankings come out. 

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2nd ranked Germany ended up winning the tournament defeating Japan 4-3 in a wild finish. Célia Okoyino da Mbabi broke a 2-2 tie in the 88th minute only to have Yūki Nagasato equalize two minutes later. But Okoyino da Mbabi netted her third goal of the match in stoppage time to give the Germans their first Algarve Cup title since 2006 when they defeated the U.S. in a shootout. Okoyino da Mbabi led all scorers in the tournament with 6 goals.

U.S. Women's Soccer Wrap

ALGARVE CUP - JAPAN 1 USA 0

The U.S. was unable to get any payback for their shootout loss to Japan in the 2011 World Cup Finals as the Japanese once again got the best of the United States. Substitute Megumi Takase headed in Aya Miyama's 84th minute corner kick for the only goal of the match to capture first place in Group B at the Algarve Cup. It marked the first time the Japanese had ever defeated the U.S. in regulation and means that there will be no three-peat for the United States. In fact, this will be the first Algarve Cup final since 2002 that won't feature the U.S. women as they'll instead head to the consolation game where they'll take on rival Sweden. While you'd hope the U.S. could take out some frustration and salvage at least a third place finish, it won't be a cake walk by any means. The Swedes went unbeaten in three matches against the United States last year including wins at the Four Nations Cup and in group play at the World Cup.

CONCACAF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS - USA U-20s 6 PANAMA 0

On a brighter note, the U-20s cruised to their third consecutive 6-0 victory clinching first place in Group B at the CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship. Micaela Capelle opened the scoring with her first goal of the tournament, and second half substitute Maya Hayes added two more goals to lead the way for the United States. Vanessa DiBernardo, Julie Johnston  and Samantha Mewis also scored goals for the U.S. The U-20s will now advance to the semifinals of the tournament where they'll face Mexico who finished second in Group A. Only the top 3 teams advance to the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup so the U.S. must win one of their next two matches to move on. Panama, despite the loss, also advances to take on Canada in the other semifinal.

Tuesday Trivia

Last week's question:

Dwyane Wade dealt Kobe Bryant a particularly hard foul during the NBA All Star game actually drawing blood and breaking Bryant's nose. The foul was one of four Wade picked up in the game. Who was the last player to actually foul out of an All Star Game? Yes, it has happened.

Answer:

Photo Credit: bucks-cards.com

25 years ago, back when he was still just Akeem Olajuwon and not Hakeem Olajuwon, the Houston Rockets' center fouled out of the 1987 All-Star Game. The game did go into overtime, but Olajuwon only played 26 minutes. Still, 'The Dream' isn't the only player to foul out of an all star game. Heck, a couple of Hall of Famers actually did it TWICE. The other offenders:

Rick Barry - 1978
Willis Reed - 1970
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 1970
Rick Barry - 1966
Bill Russell - 1965
Johnny Green - 1965
Walt Bellamy - 1962
Richie Guerin - 1962
Bob Cousy - 1961
Dolph Schayes - 1959
Paul Arizin - 1956
Bob Cousy - 1956
Bill Sharman - 1956
Bobby Wanzer - 1954

This week's question:

Photo Credit: bucyrustelegraphforum.com

When Japan shut out the U.S. Women's Soccer Team 1-0 yesterday it marked the first time that the U.S. had failed to score a goal since a scoreless draw with Korea back in 2008, a span of 57 matches. Only two women started both of those games for the United States. Who are they?

Feb 29th a Banner Day for U.S. Soccer

It's too bad there isn't a February 29th every year. What a day for U.S. Soccer. Goals were scored, history was made, and three different U.S. teams emerged victorious today. Let's take a closer look at how it all went down.

WOMEN

USA 5 DENMARK 0

The U.S. opened the 2012 Algarve Cup with a 5-0 thrashing of 12th ranked Denmark this afternoon as they took an early lead in Group B. Alex Morgan continued her torrid scoring pace this year notching her 7th and 8th goals of 2012 and Abby Wambach scored the 132nd goal of her international career to lead the offense while Hope Solo made 4 saves for her 61st career shutout to lead the defensive effort. Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux also chipped in goals in the second half, and with goal differential being one of the main tiebreakers in this tournament every little bit helps. The U.S. is now 7-0 to start the year and has only allowed one goal while scoring 45. The road to a third straight Algarve Cup title gets a lot tougher though as powerhouses Norway and Japan still loom ahead on the schedule. Japan, who defeated the U.S. in the World Cup Final last summer, rallied for a 2-1 win over Norway this morning in Group B's other match. The U.S. gets Norway on Friday, and then wraps up Group Play against Japan on Monday with a berth in the final potentially on the line.


MEN

USA 1 ITALY 0

The U.S. men made history today with their first ever win against the Italians in 11 tries. Clint Dempsey became just the fourth American player ever to score against Italy taking a feed from Jozy Altidore near the top of the box and hitting a driven shot against the grains and past a helpless Gianluigi Buffon for the only goal of the match as Tim Howard and company held on for a 1-0 win. While the win is certainly historic, let's not get too carried away. To be clear, the U.S. did not outplay Italy today. The Azzurri outshot Jurgen Klinsmann's club 19-4 and were victimized by 9 offsides calls, and with a little luck this game easily could have been 3 or 4 to 1 in favor of the hosts. But Howard made 7 saves and the U.S. back line of Steve Cherundolo, Carlos Bocanegra, Clarence Goodson and Fabian Johnson (later Jonathan Spector) made just enough plays to preserve the shutout and snap a winless streak dating back to 1934. Still, while this win doesn't propel the U.S. into the conversation of the best teams in the world, it's still another step in the right direction and it's a huge confidence builder. Any time you can go toe-to-toe with, and hang with, one of the world's best - and despite what you may think after today Italy is still exactly that - that's a substantial accomplishment.

Photo Credit: espn.go.com

The U.S. has now won 4 games in a row - 3 of those outside of the country - and they haven't allowed a goal in any of their matches in 2012. And let's not forget that the U.S. still hasn't managed to put its two best players, Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, on the field at the same time since the start of the Klinsmann era. With the improved play of Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu and Jozy Altidore, and the continued development of youngsters like Brek Shea to complement the starpower of Donovan and Dempsey there's plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the U.S.'s chances in World Cup Qualifying this summer.


U-23s

USA 2 MEXICO 0

Photo Credit: soccerbyives.net

More reason to be optimistic for U.S. soccer fans as the U-23s, despite playing without Brek Shea or Terrence Boyd who were both in Italy with the Senior Squad, defeated Mexico in Texas tonight by a score of 2-0. Both goals came mere minutes apart in the first half, first with Juan Agudelo heading home a Mix Diskerud corner and then Diskerud deflecting Freddy Adu's long range shot into the corner of the net doubling the lead. On the other end, MLS keepers Bill Hamid and Sean Johnson combined to make 8 saves to preserve the shutout. Watching the U.S. handle a tough Mexico squad with some ease, you have to like their chances in Olympic Qualifying 3 weeks from now when they take on the likes of Cuba, Canada and El Salvador in group play. Qualifying kicks off on March 22nd.


THE REST OF THE WORLD

Today was a busy day for soccer with a lot of the world's top teams in action in friendlies. Some of the highlights:

SPAIN 5 VENEZUELA 0 - Even without injured David Villa, Spain's offense is still potent. 26 year old Valencia striker Roberto Soldado came off the bench at halftime and struck 3 times as Spain cruised to a 5-0 win over Venezuela.

NETHERLANDS 3 ENGLAND 2 - England erased a 2-0 deficit with a pair of late goals, but Arjen Robben ripped their hearts out with his second goal of the match, two minutes into stoppage time, to give the Dutch a 3-2 win. Scary moment in this one on Holland's second goal when Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Chris Smalling knocked heads seconds after Huntelaar's header gave the Dutch a 2-0 lead. Both players were sent to the hospital with Smalling leaving the field on a stretcher.

Photo Credit: dailymail.co.uk

FRANCE 2 GERMANY 1 - Oliver Giroud and Florent Malouda each scored goals for the French while the Germans could only muster a 91st minute goal from Cacau as they lost at home 2-1.

ARGENTINA 3 SWITZERLAND 1 - The international game hasn't been particular kind to Lionel Messi, but today was an exception as he torched the Swiss defense for 3 goals, including 2 in the last five minutes, for his first ever international hat trick. Messi, who has scored at least 38 goals for Barcelona in each of the last 4 seasons, now has 22 goals for Argentina in 67 matches.

COLOMBIA 2 MEXICO 0 - Mexico dominated possession and attempted 17 shots, but the potent Chicharito and Gio Dos Santos were both shutout while Atlético Madrid striker Falcao and midfielder Juan Cuadrado beat Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa for a 2-0 win.

U.S. Men and Women Set Rosters for Upcoming Matches

Both the U.S. Men's and Women's Soccer Teams have matches in Europe next week with the men getting ready to face 8th ranked Italy and the women off to Portugal to defend their Algarve Cup Championship. Here's a look at the rosters for both teams:

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