Post by rjdgull on Aug 4, 2012 7:44:58 GMT
I traveled up to Cardiff yesterday to see this Olympic match up which had three firsts for me. First Women's football match, first trip to the Millennium stadium and with the roof closed, first indoor game!
I used the park and ride to get there with the car park being in the grounds of Cardiff City stadium which looked very impressive reflecting their rise to the top division. However, really liked the Millennium stadium and looking around couldn't but help trying to envisage the atmosphere in a Wales rugby union match which must be something to behold. As it was there was a respectable crowd of 28,500 with Charlotte Church given the job of getting the crowd going.
Once the match got going, Japan had a shot well saved in the first minute but for the next half an hour it was non stop Brazil pressure where they really should have scored. Their best chance came when a cross dropped between two of their players just outside the six yard box and the snap shot just went over which was a cardinal sin from that range! The Japanese keeper made some good saves to keep her team in it and then how many times have we seen Torquay dominate only then to concede first which is what happened here. From a free kick, a pass was threaded through the defence in a Eunan like fashion for a one on one with the striker making no mistake to slot the ball into the far corner.
This set the tone for the second half with Japan defending behind two banks of four and trying to hit on the counter. Brazil certainly had their chances but some poor finishing in the final third undid them and mid way through the second half saw a breakaway move with the striker cutting inside from just inside and to the right hand side of the area to unleash a stunning strike to hit the underside of the bar and in, to score a top quality goal.
It was effectively game over from this point with the Japanese well organised and disciplined team able to nullify the Brazilian flair.
I used the park and ride to get there with the car park being in the grounds of Cardiff City stadium which looked very impressive reflecting their rise to the top division. However, really liked the Millennium stadium and looking around couldn't but help trying to envisage the atmosphere in a Wales rugby union match which must be something to behold. As it was there was a respectable crowd of 28,500 with Charlotte Church given the job of getting the crowd going.
Once the match got going, Japan had a shot well saved in the first minute but for the next half an hour it was non stop Brazil pressure where they really should have scored. Their best chance came when a cross dropped between two of their players just outside the six yard box and the snap shot just went over which was a cardinal sin from that range! The Japanese keeper made some good saves to keep her team in it and then how many times have we seen Torquay dominate only then to concede first which is what happened here. From a free kick, a pass was threaded through the defence in a Eunan like fashion for a one on one with the striker making no mistake to slot the ball into the far corner.
This set the tone for the second half with Japan defending behind two banks of four and trying to hit on the counter. Brazil certainly had their chances but some poor finishing in the final third undid them and mid way through the second half saw a breakaway move with the striker cutting inside from just inside and to the right hand side of the area to unleash a stunning strike to hit the underside of the bar and in, to score a top quality goal.
It was effectively game over from this point with the Japanese well organised and disciplined team able to nullify the Brazilian flair.
