Olympic GDT - 6 August

[Devils'Advocate]

Jian Gomeshi:
"Ref in this game is doing things by the book. Assuming it's a book that has nothing to do with soccer."

Every time. I get sucked in by the Olympics and forget what a complete fraud it is. Was it this bad in Vancouver? I don't remember a Sale-Pelletier issue from Vancouver.

It's so sad that the efforts of team Canada today will NOT draw me into watching more soccer in the future. They played their hearts out and almost pulled off a miracle on grass. But until the officiating is fixed, I'll go back to playing Starcraft II. Which is unfair to those that play the game... they deserve our attention and support.

[d_phaneuf]

Watched the sport my entire life and I have never seen that call

I have seen yellow cards given plenty of times, never seen that call

Sinclair should be proud, she was magnificent, don't see any scenario where should shouldn't hold the flag for the closing ceremony

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

It's so sad that the efforts of team Canada today will NOT draw me into watching more soccer in the future. They played their hearts out and almost pulled off a miracle on grass. But until the officiating is fixed, I'll go back to playing Starcraft II. Which is unfair to those that play the game... they deserve our attention and support.

That is also a big problem. Today was the first time my mother and brother in law ever sat down and watched a soccer game. Today was also the last time my mother and brother in law will ever sit down and watch a soccer game.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Jian Gomeshi:
"Ref in this game is doing things by the book. Assuming it's a book that has nothing to do with soccer."

Every time. I get sucked in by the Olympics and forget what a complete fraud it is. Was it this bad in Vancouver? I don't remember a Sale-Pelletier issue from Vancouver.

It's so sad that the efforts of team Canada today will NOT draw me into watching more soccer in the future. They played their hearts out and almost pulled off a miracle on grass. But until the officiating is fixed, I'll go back to playing Starcraft II. Which is unfair to those that play the game... they deserve our attention and support.

You can love the soldier but not the war.

[GirlySports]

On a lighter note!

The only Olympic sailing video you will ever need to watch!

[flylock shox]

Really rough finish to a superb game, and a legendary performance from Sinclair.

I have to question the coach's decision not to use a sub in the latter stages though - it seemed to me he clearly had two injured/tired players on the pitch, and let them make their own decisions about staying on. You've got to make the call in that circumstance to pull those players out and put in some fresh blood. That's assuming, of course, he had any substitutions left to work with.

I've never seen the delay of game call on a keeper before, but I noticed early on that McLeod has a tendency to hold on too long (I even remarked earlier on in the game "Jeebus girl, get rid of it" when it was apparent she was going over the six second mark).

Total shame to lose it like that though. Two of the US goals were garbage (the penalty kick, and the corner kick - although why no one was on the front post is beyond me).

Great effort though. Sinclair deserves heavy heavy praise for that one.

[TurnedTheCorner]

I really want Sinclair to engage God mode again for bronze to cement her as the flag bearer in the closing ceremony. But even if she doesn't blow up again next game, I would be completely fine with her carrying the flag. Amidst all the controversy at the end of the game, it would be a shame for her performance to be forgotten.



James Duthie nailed it

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That is also a big problem. Today was the first time my mother and brother in law ever sat down and watched a soccer game. Today was also the last time my mother and brother in law will ever sit down and watch a soccer game.

You can include me in that group. This is the 2nd soccer game I believe I have seen in about 10 years. The other was I believe a medal game or semi final for women juniors, I believe in Edmonton. Canada, with Sinclair, was playing some South American team I recall. And that game was flat out fixed I recall as well. There were a list of bad calls, one of which I recall was the opposing player head butting the Canadian player, and the Canadian got flagged (or carded or whatever).

Between that and all the diving ... jeesh.

What a lame, rigged sport, it makes boxing blush.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

What a lame, rigged sport, it makes boxing blush.

C'mon, boxing is incapable of blushing.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Sucks for the Canadian girls but they did their country proud. I'm American and i hope Japan wipes the floor with the U.S.

[GirlySports]

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-spor...sial-loss.html

Herdman was livid with Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen for a pair of calls that led to the third American goal. With Canada leading 3-2, Pedersen awarded the Americans an indirect free kick right outside the Canadian box after penalizing goaltender Erin McLeod for holding the ball for more than six seconds. On the ensuing kick, Pedersen charged Marie-Eve Nault with a handball in the penalty area, and Abby Wambach converted the penalty to tie the game 3-3 with about 10 minutes left.


Herdman said "it felt like it was America and the referee against" the Canadians.

"She'll have to sleep in bed tonight after watching the replays, she's got that to live with," he said "We'll move on from this, I wonder if she'll be able to."

[Hells Bells]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/field-spor...sial-loss.html

Of course the ref will be able to move on, she got the result she so dearly wanted.

Now she can cheer on the Americans in the gold medal final.

[MrMastodonFarm]

So can anyone sum up the last couple of posts for me, or give a highlight reel? Totally out of touch on what happened this morning.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Hells Bells

Of course the ref will be able to move on, she got the result she so dearly wanted.

Now she can cheer on the Americans in the gold medal final.

[Nehkara]

I really hope they can get past France. It will be hard to overcome all the pain (emotional and physical) from this game, but even a bronze medal would be massive for Canada.

I am just crushed with the result today though... I was screaming at my TV all afternoon.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

You can include me in that group. This is the 2nd soccer game I believe I have seen in about 10 years. The other was I believe a medal game or semi final for women juniors, I believe in Edmonton. Canada, with Sinclair, was playing some South American team I recall. And that game was flat out fixed I recall as well. There were a list of bad calls, one of which I recall was the opposing player head butting the Canadian player, and the Canadian got flagged (or carded or whatever).

Between that and all the diving ... jeesh.

What a lame, rigged sport, it makes boxing blush.

i'm in the same boat, this was the first soccer game i actually watched all the way through. i was fist pumping Sinclair's goals as hard as if i were watching a Flames game, and after her 3rd for the hat-trick i thought surely that had to clinch it. but then the ref stepped in, did was she was obviously told to do, and gift wrapped the game for the Americans. i'll never again watch a sport that is so obviously fixed, it even makes the NBA look like an honest game

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

So can anyone sum up the last couple of posts for me, or give a highlight reel? Totally out of touch on what happened this morning.

Canada led the game three times. 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2. (All of Canada's goals scored by the amazing Christine Sinclair!) They lost the game 4-3 in the 123rd minute, during stoppage time at the end of extra time.

Unfortunately the USA's first goal was an own goal, a lapse in coverage at the near post of a corner kick and the US player was able to fire it perfectly towards that near post and it hit a Canadian defender and the Canadian goalkeeper and went in.

The USA's 2nd goal was very nice, long shot off the post and in.

The USA's 3rd and tying goal near the end of the game is where most of the controversy lies. The Canadian goalkeeper, according to the ref, took too long to get rid of the ball and was called for the "6 second rule" which awards an in-direct free kick to the opposing team in the box. Off the free kick the ball struck two Canadian defenders hard in the arm. The Ref called intentional hand ball and awarded a penalty kick to the Americans which resulted in a goal. 3-3. The problem is that the "6 second rule" is basically never ever called in any game, let alone an important Olympic game near the end. (The American coach after the game said she had never seen it called either).

Also a big problem, there was absolutely NO intent in the hand ball play. The Canadian defenders had the ball hammered at them, no way they could get out of the way.

ANOTHER issue with that play is just minutes earlier the ref had missed a hand ball that should have been called against the Americans and would have resulted in a Canadian penalty kick (which I believe would have made the game 4-2 Canada at that point).

This came after a slew of missed/poor calls from the ref for most of the game.

Unfortunately an absolutely exhausted Canadian squad just couldn't quite hang on until penalty kicks and lost at the last moment of extra time.

A heroic effort by the Canadian women's team, a stunningly amazing game by Christine Sinclair. I really hope they are able to get revenge in 2016, and hopefully before that at other international events.

Also, go get your Bronze medal ladies. You deserve it.

[calgarybornnraised]

I feel silly, i never watch soccer and dont usually care,but i am so mad about today.

[GirlySports]

Nekhara:

They'll get their chance at revenge in the 2015 World Cup.

AT HOME!

If anything I hope that this game gave the girls alot of Canadian support and those games will be sold out!

[Nehkara]

I have been trying to get more into soccer, if only (for the time being) to cheer on the Canadian women's and men's squads in international events. (Holding out a lot of hope that the Canadian Men can qualify for the next World Cup.)

I can see how people would want to not watch soccer after this debacle, but it just gives me more resolve to support our teams.

As a side note, I would also like to see a MLS team come to Calgary given the recent expansion into Canada. I would definitely be up for season tickets.