Good first half for the US women in the semifinal. Great late counter in the second by Ausmus to give them the 5-2 lead.
The US has felt in control the whole game to me with some great defensive play, but even when the Aussies get an opportunity Johnson has come up with some big saves.
I feel like this is going to end with a similar exclusion ratio in favor of the Americans like the Hungary game and non-US supporters will complain, but the US is using motion and picks and the Australians are playing vertically and center focused. One draws more exclusions than the other especially with the zoning the US is doing.
Unfortunate for Australia to have one of their big guns take two major fouls on the same play with an unintentional interference.
I’d still like to see the US generate some more offense and be more effective in the extra player situations.
Great adjustments made by the Australians in the third. They started adding some motion to challenge the American defenders on switches and recovers. This freed up Andrews to score 4 quick goals in the quarter.
A big extra player goal and a great drive and finish from Flynn for the Americans kept them in the lead, but the offense stalled a little bit there while the Australians made their run.
Nothing bad to say about the US woman’s team. Hope they bring home bronze. But what a legendary run for a batch of them of more than 14 years. And, although the gap is closer than ever, what a batch of ladies coming up. The future is bright.
Should note some amazing performances from NCAA athletes in other countries also. The four consecutive goals from Australian lefty Abby Andrews (Michigan) in the third was key to their win.
Tough loss. Can’t stay on top forever but amazing run by the women’s national team and they can still end this tournament with a bronze medal.
I thought Australia actually played better in the first half than the U.S., got lots of shots off in close but AJ was a wall. Then in the shoot out the Aussie shots were skip high corner almost perfect.
In the second half two of Australias goals from 6 v 5 came from up top when our X5 shot blocker was trying to go out but the 3 post was clearly holding them back. Really helped swing the momentum their way
Tough loss for the women and an end to an absolutely amazing Olympic run. I am so thankful to have been able to watch them dominate over those years.
I knew that the US had some weaknesses, but I never thought that they would lose to Australia, a team that they completely dominated in a 3 game series back in April. Giving up an 8-6 lead in 4th really stings, but, in the end, you have to top your hat to Australia, especially Williams who scored four straight in the 3rd and Halligan who tallied both of their goals in the 4th.
It will be interesting to see who sticks around for LA in 2028, Adam Krikorian included.
Yes, Fatal was being held but she wasn’t making an effort to attack the offensive player. She was just holding her arm up. If she had tried to attack the shooter, an offensive may have been called.
One thing I do not understand in Water Polo and never have is why the exclusion foul of holding is so rarely called. This has a profound influence on the game, both in terms of limiting offensive and defensive movement and in escalating the level of physicality. But through many rule changes and points of emphasis as a player, coach and now referee, the (unwritten, tacit) standard remains that holding gets called only when it’s obvious and egregious. The result is that when it does get called, it’s more often the reaction to the initial hold that gets penalized. In a game where holding is on paper illegal, we all talk about training players in grappling if they are to be effective, especially at center and center defense. It’s been the case so long that none of us find that odd.
This game feels so typical of games we play against the Serbians: the US is doing more, working harder, executing their game plan and getting more opportunities, but the Serbs are up 2.
Lots of exclusions in the Americans favor in the half, so hopefully they can get the Serbians into foul trouble late and capitalize on those extra player situations (please! for once!).
3 of the goals scored on the US have been a player on the left side getting a handful of fakes and stepping in with no one in front of them. I don’t care how well Weinberg has played, he needs some help there.
Just as the team fed on Weinberg’s energy the entire tournament, the team needs to now support and help out more when he’s having more of “normal” game