US had no reason to lose

The disappointment is still there.

I’m talking about how the U.S. women’s team blew its chance in the choke of the year against Japan on July 17 in the Women’s World Cup final.

It’s not just that the women lost, but the way they lost.

They played the entire game with the arrogance and poise that should be indicative of a team ranked No. 1 in the world. They had enough chances in the first 30 minutes that at halftime the trophy should have already been engraved with “United States.”

The team led us on with shot after shot for 69 minutes before it finally mustered a goal. Right when it looked as if that goal would lead us to victory, the United States played defense that was more suited for the playground. And that defensive lapse let Japan right back in.

In extra time, we continued to dominate and once again Abby Wambach powered in a header to give us a lead that you would have bet your house on. But again, somehow we let Japan back into the game. Of course, you already know the ending. Japan sent it to penalty kicks.

After making five penalty kicks against Brazil in the quarterfinals, and having the best goalie in the world in Hope Solo, the they appeared to have it in the bag.

But missing its first three penalties doesn’t translate into a recipe for success, and the United States paid the ultimate price by losing the World Cup to a team they were far better than.

The women’s team made the biggest mistake in sports by letting the weaker team stick around, and it cost us our third title.

Before the match, if you had told me that Japan was going to win the World Cup, I would have laughed in your face. But it beat world-power Germany in the quarterfinals and shocked Sweden in the semis to set up a date with the United States.

I can say I was more than pleased for us to play Japan in the final, but it seems I may have not been the only one to underestimate Japan.

Soccer is a cruel sport, but the World Cup takes it to a whole new level. Just as you’re about to see your country with both hands on the trophy, it gets snatched away, and you are left to wait four more years for the chance to win it again.

Let’s hope the United States learns from its mistakes.