EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap -- The USWNT Struggles but Moves On to the Semifinals

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap -- The USWNT Struggles but Moves On to the Semifinals

It was brutal, but perhaps it was necessary. The USWNT scraped past Japan in the Olympics quarterfinals thanks to an extra-time wonder strike from Trinity Rodman, setting up a semifinal rematch with Germany. Were the players just too tired? Is Emma Hayes's focus on chemistry over fresh legs about to blow up in her face? Was the Japanese defense just too good for the US? Thankfully, the US's defense was even better. Eric and Evan get into all of it and preview the semifinal via Germany's penalty-shootout win against Canada!

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap--The USWNT Win Group B, Face Japan in the Quarterfinals

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The USWNT beat Australia 2-1 in the final round of the Olympics group stage, topping the group and heading to the quarterfinals to play Japan on Saturday. Despite all the hand-wringing about the US heading into the tournament, they finished group play with the best goal differential the best non-penalty xG differential, the most shots taken in the box, and the most touches in the box. (There's also the small matter of Spain as the only other team to win all three of their group games.)

How did the US look against Australia? What might it portend for the knockout stage? And what dangers--and opportunities--do Japan offer? Eric & Evan tackle it all!

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Art by Eli Elbogen 
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap -- The USWNT Fly Through Germany in the Balmy Marseille Air

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap -- The USWNT Fly Through Germany in the Balmy Marseille Air

Bang! The USWNT rained goals on Germany in a 4-1 victory, their biggest result against a FIFA top-10 side in six years. A Sophia Smith brace, a Mallory Swanson tap-in, and a Lynn Williams dagger made Germany look far worse than their world ranking would indicate. But was it all bread and circuses for Emma Hayes's side? Eric and Evan examine the tactical imbalance that allowed the Germans to find seams on the counter--and the ways the US exploited their opponent's resulting gaps in the other direction. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap: The USWNT Opens its Account With a Dazzling Win over Zambia

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Olympics Recap: The USWNT Opens its Account With a Dazzling Win over Zambia

There were a couple of emphatic 3-0 wins in Group B as the Olympics tournament kicked off on Thursday. The USWNT contained Barbra Banda and put Zambia to the sword with some dazzling goals from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. What did the US do right? What can they carry over to their match against Germany on Sunday, a team that looked stout and strong against a naïve Australia? Eric and Evan leave no stone unturned. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The Big USWNT Olympics Preview! Plus Zambia, Germany, & Australia

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The Big USWNT Olympics Preview! Plus Zambia, Germany, & Australia

Here we go again! One year to the week that xOG launched, we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another major international tournament. The USWNT are in the Olympics Group of Death; how will they manage opposition as varied as Zambia, Germany, and Australia? Eric and Evan plunge into the US lineup, head coach Emma Hayes's tactical plans, and what tests each of their group B opponents offer. 

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Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The USWNT Preps for the Olympics by Beating Mexico. Plus, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: The USWNT Preps for the Olympics by Beating Mexico. Plus, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

The USWNT offered a lot in their 1-0 victory over Mexico on a hot and muggy day in New Jersey. Was their lack of finishing something to be concerned over? Can Rose Lavelle be counted on in the absence of an injured Catarina Macario? Will Korbin Albert ever do what it takes to stop being booed?

Plus, we have a big announcement about something we can't wait to debut when the Olympics starts! Stay tuned for more info! 

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs 

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Expected Own Goals: NWSL Week 16: Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride Was the Game of the Season

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Expected Own Goals: NWSL Week 16: Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride Was the Game of the Season

The two best teams in the NWSL had to wait until the final matchweek before the Olympics break to square off,  and dear lord was it worth the wait. Brain-busting goals from Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga, a game-changing second yellow card for Carrie Lawrence, and a feisty, physical encounter all made this fixture an instant classic. Eric and Evan analyze what Seb Hines and Orlando did right, and maybe what Vlatko Andonovski and Kansas City did wrong.

Art by Eli Elbogen

Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Midseason Check-In, Pt. I: The State of the League

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: Midseason Check-In, Pt. I: The State of the League

We're now (just over) halfway through the 2024 NWSL regular season, and trends are emerging! Eric and Evan uncover a host of interesting nuggets about how teams are playing this year compared to past seasons.

Why on earth did the San Diego Wave "part ways" with Casey Stoney? (00:16)
Where did parity go? Is it simply a byproduct of expansion? (08:37)
Does the increase in goalscoring come down to Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, et al.? (18:00)
The league still loves transition tactics, but how have they morphed in 2024? (20:36)
How do the Chicago Red Stars, Racing Louisville, and Orlando Pride buck current tactical trends? (25:17)
Are the Pride or the Kansas City Current the tactical future of the NWSL? (29:16)
How has money influenced both tactics and the development of players to fit those tactics? (35:21)
Whose first-half results have been real or not real? (42:55)

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 12: The Bats Take Flight as Gotham FC Start Dominating

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NWSL Week 12: The Bats Take Flight as Gotham FC Start Dominating

Gotham FC's 2-0 victory on the road against Racing Louisville was about as ugly as 2-0 victories get, but dig under the hood and you see that the preseason Shield favorites are finally coming into their own. The galacticos of Dunn, Lavelle, Davidson and Sonnett started their second game in a row together. Ella Stevens can't stop scoring. Ann-Katrin Berger might be the best keeper in the whole league right now. Is it all finally coming together for Juan Carlos Amorós's squad? Eric and Evan debate the finer points of Gotham's resurgence.

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 11: Rappelling Down the Seattle Reign Cavern, with Sylvs of Shea Butter FC!

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The Seattle Reign got smoked by the Kansas City Current over the weekend. That such a result would be par for the course shows what kind of season Laura Harvey's crew have had. Sylvs of Shea Butter FC hopped on to talk about Reign history, the struggles of the team in the void of the team sale yet to close, and what glimmers of hope Jordyn Huitema's two goals could represent. 

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Recap -- The Emma Hayes Era Kicks Off With Goals Goals Goals!

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Recap -- The Emma Hayes Era Kicks Off With Goals Goals Goals!

The day has come: Emma Hayes is now the head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team. The side demolished South Korea for a combined scoreline of 7-0. Sam Staab and Lily Yohannes each earned their first caps. The law firm of Smith, Swanson, and Rodman served papers to their opponents over and over again. Alex Morgan--well, she was present. 

What did we learn about how Hayes wants the team to play? Eric and Evan uncover all the tactical nuggets across the two friendlies, then project the USWNT's likely 18-player Olympics roster. The takes get spicy.

Need a pick-me-up? Four out of five doctors recommend SoMalloTrin!


Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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NWSL Week 10: Destiny's Children? (H-Town Screwed Mix)

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NWSL Week 10: Destiny's Children? (H-Town Screwed Mix)

Week 10! Two teams. Two massive victories. Two bright futures ahead? Eric and Evan ponder the meaning of Houston's staggering 3-0 home win over North Carolina and examine the implications of Racing Louisville's 1-0 away result in Chicago. H-town madness? Kentucky fried conquest? We're curious too. 

Art by Eli Elbogen 
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 9 -- The Utah Royals Stare into the Void

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EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 9 -- The Utah Royals Stare into the Void

Another week, another brutal Utah Royals loss. Though the scoreline was a mere 1-0 defeat on the road to the North Carolina Courage, the expansion side was under siege pretty much from minute one. Eric and Evan use the Royals' performance to figure out just how badly the season has gone for the club, and what bright spots may be on the horizon. 

Art by Eli Elbogen 
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

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