Titans battle to draw

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This article was published 13/06/2015 (4056 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two women’s world soccer giants solved nothing Friday night at Investors Group Field as the United States and Sweden finished 90 minutes in a scoreless draw in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group D match.

“It was like two heavyweights going at it,” said U.S. coach Jill Ellis. “I thought both teams left it all on the field. I think Sweden had a good game plan. They were tough to break down.”

The result left the second-ranked Americans with four points (1-0-1) to lead the four-team group, while Sweden, after a disappointing opening 3-3 draw with Nigeria, moves to two points (0-0-2) and is third.

Friday’s two matches here featured just two goals, a marked contrast to last Monday’s opening day here, when there were a combined 10.

Sweden, the fifth-ranked team, was under a concerted American assault during the second half but defended aggressively with players back, keeping the Americans from wide-open goal chances such as the Nigerians had last Monday.

The Swedes actually had several good opportunities of their own in the second half, including odd-player breaks up the field, but couldn’t convert.

The best chance of the half belonged to them when Caroline Seger’s shot was saved on the goal line by the head of U.S. defender Meghan Klingenberg, with the ball then shooting up and off the crossbar in the 77th minute.

“Brilliant,” Ellis said. “Believe it or not, we actually practise that. A huge defensive play.”

“I was absolutely sure it was the winning goal,” said Sweden’s coach, Pia Sundhage. “I couldn’t believe it was bouncing out.”

Sweden’s goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, chosen the player of the game, liked the look of Seger’s opportunity.

“I did think, ‘Goal line technology, come on,’ ” she said. “But apparently it wasn’t so close after all.”

Lindahl said her team’s improvement Friday was encouraging.

“We used different tactics,” Lindahl said. “We played much deeper. When we did that, we were very close together and then we played very good defence.

“And then we got more time on the ball when we played the attacking game as well. It felt better in both directions.”

Sundhage confirmed after the match her team’s emphasis was on defending, on playing back and avoiding the one-versus-one challenges that were so costly against Nigeria — “being more loyal to the game plan,” she said.

“After this 90 minutes, we gained some confidence. We will enjoy the night.”

Sweden faces Australia Tuesday in Edmonton, where both teams will have a chance to advance to the knockout round of 16.

The U.S. plays Nigeria in Vancouver.

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“I thought the second half we were better, had better possession,” Ellis said about her team’s performance. “And we took some good things away from it in terms of defending set pieces. Sweden’s got a tremendous corner kick and we had to deal with it a lot (eight times).”

“Overall, we’re still in the driver’s seat, so to speak.”

Ellis didn’t use star Abby Wambach in a starting role Friday, instead sending her into the game at 67 minutes for, “a bigger presence in the box for crosses,” she said.

“Her influence on set-pieces on both sides of the ball is a huge asset late in a game. I felt like we needed some pace up top, and some mobility. Abby’s comfortable and confident in any role, whether she’s starting or coming off the bench.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca