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Last Updated: Jan 31, 2012 - 11:35:29 PM |
Vancouver, BC, CANADA - In what proved to be one of the widest spread goals in recent history in the game of women's professional soccer, Dominican Republic were most certainly the underdog champions to take such a licking in a end score of 14 - 0 for the United States who played as if it were a mere scrimmage.
The record most goals ever scored in a single Olympic qualifying tournament match was achieved by the USA team tonight.
USA coach Pia Sundhage took her allowed three substitutions for the game and Dominican Republic fought to the best of their ability, however they were heavily worked, in particular their inexhaustible Dominican
goalkeeper, Heidy Salazar
who took one never-ending shot after the other.
Sports commentators on Canadian broadcasts expressed continual upset on the uneasiness of the situation, and the very tough situation that the USA coach was in, along with her players. How could USA ease up and go against what they were trained to do, that is to play to the best of their ability?
Who can take blame for such a lopsided game? CONCACAF itself? In what must have been a historic match to show that rules of entry must certainly be reviewed for future competition, the game was uneasy for every one to watch, except perhaps to the exuberant American fans.
"The merciful full-time whistle" is what one TV commentator said when the final 90 minute whistle blew.
The game ended with 43 attempts on goal for the USA.
Twitter was overloaded with play by play on the score climb and the USA coach's overzealous cheering, no matter how high their score got.
Although many of the fans on the USA American Women's Team Facebook page felt bad about the score difference, one male fan said, "This is not pee wee league or
even high school. This is the world stage in the highest evolution of
the sport. If they don't want the US to score, its their job to make some
plays. Its NEVER your job to not try your best in competitive sports.
You are trained to go hard until the final whistle and that's what the
team should be doing. They have already made the allowable subs. The
players out there have a responsibility to play their best until its
over."
The cheering by the USA fans and their team and coach never waned once during the 90 minutes, no matter the score. However one must wonder if the constancy justified their need to secure the goal differential.
The word overkill certainly came to mind, as well as sportsmanship or what is proper 'protocol' toward sportsmanship, as most certainly this game will set an example for future generations.
Play continues Saturday, January 21st with the rest of the schedule as follows:
Friday 20 January at 17.00 ET / 14.00 PT: Group B - Mexico vs. Guatemala
Friday 20 January at 19.30 ET / 16.30 PT: Group B - Dominican Republic vs. USA
Saturday 21 January at 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT: Group A - Haiti vs. Costa Rica
Saturday 21 January at 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT: Group A - Canada vs. Cuba
Sunday 22 January at 17.00 ET / 14.00 PT: Group B - Mexico vs. Dominican Republic
Sunday 22 January at 19.00 ET / 16.00 PT: Group B - USA vs. Guatemala
Monday 23 January at 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT: Group A - Cuba vs. Haiti
Monday 23 January at 22.30 ET / 19.30 PT: Group A - Canada vs. Costa Rica
Tuesday 24 January at 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT: Group B - Guatemala vs. Dominican Republic
Tuesday 24 January at 22.00 ET / 19.00 PT: Group B - USA vs. Mexico
Friday 27 January at 20.00 ET / 17.00 PT: Semifinal #1 - B1 vs. A2
Friday 27 January at 23.00 ET / 20.00 PT: Semifinal #2 - A1 vs. B2
Sunday 29 January at 19.30 ET / 16.30 PT: Final - Winner A1/B2 vs. Winner B1/A2
The teams are vying for placement in next summer’s Olympics in London.
Teams participating
in the tournament are: Group A features Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba and
Haiti while Group B features USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Dominican
Republic.
The first game was an easy win for Mexico of 5 - 0 over Guatemala in Group B.
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