In contrast to the 4-0 blowout in Kansas City, Tuesday’s 2-1 US victory showed the growing strength of the women’s game in Nigeria and throughout the world.  It appears that the women have caught up to the men in the full expression of soccer which will require the US to grow beyond the emphasis on athleticism which has favored them in the past.

In recent years the US has displayed considerable progress in improving two of the three speeds that are required at the highest level, technical and mental.  We saw the former in winning many challenges as illustrated by Sophia Smith’s stellar move in the 13^th minute.  We saw the latter in quick, accurate passes to incisive runners with few missing their mark.  Nigeria showed some of the former as well.

Even in recent referee clinics top women referees have preached that women play the game differently from men.  The most obvious is in their greater emphasis on playing side to side rather than directly.  Against Nigeria we saw a blended style indistinguishable from a typical MLS game.  Play was built from the back with side to side as well as vertical movement until opportunities presented themselves.

The first US goal resulted from a superb cross which seemed headed for two US forwards until Nigeria’s B. Dehemin stabbed it into her own goal in the 24^th minute.  Rapid passing created the opening for the pass and smart running put the attackers in position.

Players were constantly moving to open themselves to receive the ball and quickly chose a direction to run or pass.  Nigeria was not far behind.  The wings maintained their width, allowing use of the long switching pass from wide defender to opposite wing.  While it has been rare to see women making this powerful play, in this game we saw it often.

In the 38^th minute it was clear that Nigeria would not play with a defensive mentality as they improved possession while persistently attacking down their right wing.  On balance the US had most of the possession in the half, but Nigeria was willing to slug it out rather than play defensively

The US defenders kept solid discipline in a straight offside line.  However, Nigeria’s tying goal came about in the 50^th minute as a defensive slip opened space which was a bit too slowly covered.  It was exploited by U. Kanu who gambled on a difficult angled shot from distance which passed just below the bar.

The US upped their tempo in response.  Several offsides demonstrated their urgency.  In the 65^th minute there were five attackers forming a straight line across the field showing their desire to break through the defense.  It would have been more effective had two of them pulled back to form triangles or make diagonal runs.

Moments later it was a classical crossing pass from Megan Rapinoe that Rose Lavelle amazingly headed off the post and into the net that took some of the urgency out of the US efforts.  Lavelle showed that the women now combine athleticism with great technique.

Coach Zlatko Andonovski’s integrating younger players into the team has brought them the broader strength they will need just as the rest of the world ramps up their efforts.  The upcoming game in London on 7 October against the rapidly improving Brits should display the finest of women’s soccer to date as a sign of things to come as the women’s game reaches full maturity.