u/readbetweenthesubs

Sol Rosa fans, we are so back! A very clean but scrappy game and we probably had our best game of the season against an opponent that have been finding their stride. Let's get into it!

The Great

- Straus coached a hell of a game, lineup again looked inexperienced at first and new but they really got things going with a very attack minded game plan. If the Portland game felt like a shell game, this felt like the true vision of Straus's game plan. The subs that came on too came in not only at the right time the right players came in and made the finishing difference.

- The rookies are leveling up every game. They're developing really nicely. Lageyre looked right as rain against a tough experienced KC team. If she dipped her toes in Portland, she fully jumped in this one. Suarez also in attack really brought pace as well.

- Giselle is just exploding this season, the defense, the balls skills, the attack. She truly looks like the future of outside backs. A goal and assist tonight is just awesome.

- The attack was attacking!!! The midfielders had space, the field felt open and not compressed. The touch and goes with each players in combination getting better at working together. Having Niehues back really helped and Phair is getting more confidence with her first start. But also, when the ball got turned over the team was able to collapse and cover stopping Chewinga and Co.

- Anderson stand the F up!!! KC was also dangerous tonight with having chances to put up multiple goals but AA was in her bag making multiple stops and a soft PK kick. We don't won, let alone get any points without her heroics. I'm sure this was extra sweet against KC which she had one of her worst games in the past.

The Bad (forget about it!)

- Hard to nitpick after such a solid win. And I won't, it's been a tough few weeks for the team but they really put it together tonight and I feel like this is a time to really appreciate everyone's effort.

Overall

- This is the team we've been waiting to see. And sure we saw it early but this was against a top after a slump. SD did us a favor and stopped out next opponent in Houston from keeping up with us. Let's keep the momentum going! Volemos!

We managed to get a point on the road in Providence Park. The win in Portland still eludes us but we stopped the bleeding. It was a tough match and we held Portland to nothing which is a win in itself but we continue to not be able to put one in the back of the net. Let's get into it.

The Good

- The defense again kept us in the game. Gorden, Thompson and Anderson really kept the game level the whole game. Wilson was frustrated a lot of the game and although she had chances, we kept her out of the net.

- Fuller is a game impact player. She needs to be on, she's one of the few that's able and willing to go 1v1, run into open space, and find fellow attackers. When she came on the attack really changed.

The Bad

- Have you seen our midfield???? Even the commentators were highly noticable, especially the first half, of our lack of attack. It felt like Tweed ball all over again. We just couldn't break through space. No one would check in close or we couldn't overload, or we didn't have our speedster go off for balls over the top. We just can't see the path to the goal and it's frustrating as hell.

- Along to go with the last point, tactically I don't like player positions especially in our midfield. Borges is like another McCaskill just sort of running around but not setting up meaningful attacks. Martin is and extra defender especially when Thompson runs up. Jun is still amping up her endurance and cohesion with her teamates. Lageyre was pretty invisible in her minutes. We don't have a coordinator or a facilitator. We are desperately missing Hina.

Overall

- I don't know how we'll pull ourselves out of this scoring funk. The defense is great but they can hold out only so much. Other teams will just look for errors and capitalize. We just aren't threatening at all. We move up one spot and to break the losing streak, away, and in Portland still is upside. But short rest and against a hot hot KC with Chewinga and Co wanting to stop our progress.

- Is our attack lost? Is is more on Straus or players to be the deciding factor on getting wins?

Another tough loss, maybe more so than the other three this year. We looked really strong especially the first half but with our scoring woes really piling up and a bad second half from the coach and possession we eventually break and take another loss. Let's get into it.

The Good

- Two goals against so one could say our defense wasn't up to it, but if you watched it for most of the game they were frustrating San Diego. Hell, SD could've had a few more if it wasn't for our backline and great save from Anderson. They really played lights out for 85'.. unfortunately they faultered in a couple moments. But overall really good play.

- The stadium was probably the most full and the most rowdy I've seen all year. Too bad the results didn't match the energy.

- We got to see the return of Claire. I think we all wished she came in sooner but I'm sure that was the plan before it chnaged or minutes restriction. Regardless it was great to see her back. We also saw Phair come in and play significant minutes. Love to see her come into the fold but was this the game and time to do it???

The Bad

- Really bad second half from Straus. It was a tough physical game so I'm sure players we're exhausted but I didn't like the subs this game. Fuller and possibly Jun (minutes restriction?) should've stayed in. Svendís possibly popped her ankle out but still played? Putting in Phair when we're down? Not the best moment to put her as it was pretty much her first real minutes.

- The second goal just kind of rubs me the wrong way, maybe because we've seen the ball watching before this season with opposing players sneaking in and putting a goal away. We can't keep losing players that lead to goals.

- Can we stop with the Jonsdottir throw ins? I just think there's better opportunities to set up a better Cross or something. Announcers keep saying it's a threat but so far it's a cold one.

The Absolute Gawd Awful

- In our 4 losses this year we had Chilufia, a sub, score at the death. And then Thompson and Sam's. So in our last 4 games not one starter on the attack can put a goal away. And it's not a lack of effort. Suarez had a chance to put one away and Fuller too. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what but our attack is sunk. Straus and staff really need to go back and see what worked so well or shuffle players. We need Emslie and Jun to get full game ready for sure.

Overall

- The hustle is there but it's not just getting it done. They team looked really dejected after this loss but hopefully they pull together and fix it. But this may be the more or the same in season 5. It was a tale of two halves this game and since we couldn't capitalize early we eventually broke apart. It's like an itch on the back that you can't quite reach. But the itch is getting worse and worse. On to next week.

What looked like a possibility to right the ship we now fall to three straight losses to balance the three straight wins to start the season. Currently in 8th and that top spot looks like a distant memory. Let's get into it.

The Good

- Angelina had a great save early in the first half to save a great goal attempt. She looked better this game with some other good saves.

- Defensely except for Utah's one goal we played really well, especially the second half when we were down a player. Unfortunately we couldn't transition well to the other end of goal.

The Bad

- 6 games in, the 2nd post break and we look worse then coming out of the pre-season. Now I know we had a player down but especially the first half and less so but we don't look cohesive, we're messy, bad giveaways, not real good setups in attack, no creativity, lack of open spaces, not playing through the field and lots of long balls to Svendís. Looks like the focus was on wings but I think we could've used Fuller in the middle this match. Other teams have looked smooth on the ball setting up good passes, reading each other well. Basically it feels like struggle ball on our end in the attack.

- Diminishing returns on the attack. 4,3,1,1,0, that's the goals from game one till tonight. Since game one, our goal scoring has diminished. We started off red hot and now we're cold as ice. Sure we had 9 shots with 4 on goal tonight but unlike other teams we can't finish right now. Close calls but no goals is very worrisome.

Overall this was a tough watch. Very physical first half that ended in a red for Niehues. Imo I think it was soft but hey the ref was on one tonight. We didn't even get a foul against Chilufia outside the box after a lengthy review. The red definitely messed with our second half adjustment plan I'm sure but I'd hoped we'll pull one to at least get a point... What are you seeing that you feel is our biggest hindrance right now? Was the first three games smoke and mirrors? See y'all next week against.....San Diego