David Blake: "And we're back on CBC Soccer Night, it's halftime at Star Field in Herzegovina City. Commonwealth 2, Siovanija and Teusland nil. And Aiden, you have a comment?" (panelists laugh together)
Aiden Donnen: "She's the greatest manager in the world. She's better than Ferguson, Zagallo, Trapattoni, Udo Lattek--most of you won't know who he is. But really, every button she's pushed this last match and a half has been the right one."
Gary Kostka: "the views expressed by Aiden are not necessarily those of CBC..."
Mindy Cartwright: "I think some people--not anyone here--underestimate Pam. She is a really great tactician and she gets players into the roles they are suited to. I think that's why a lot of the set piece breakdowns earlier got her so upset, because she realizes that's on her, that's not players doing poorly that's her not coaching properly."
DB: "and with that let's look at the first half highlights. Here in a second minute and BP already is controlling the possession and that's a good ball from Shaw to Jones and he sends it just wide. Right after, a good buildup here as Taborn works with Shaw and she then sends it through to Bozeman,who finds Jones lurking again and he's won a corner. Now in the 12th minute, Ashcroft makes his presence felt as he beats Klopfer to the header and Navarro races down the wing and her cross into the box finds Ashcroft, who heads it straight to the keeper Sauer. Gary?
GK: "I think Navarro brings such good pace to the right side of midfield and she's got such good vision and the ability to place passes right where they need to be."
DB: "and now the first goal, Navarro again, winning a 50/50 challenge and Taborn using his skill to get around Brotzmann, and his flick to Bozeman opens open a gap in the Siovanijan defense, Bozeman finding Ashcroft who puts it home with his right, 25 minutes gone. Aiden?
AD: "Taborn and Bozeman having so much experience together in Under 21's has paid huge dividends when they are on the field together. And Ashcroft looks like he's not quite ready to be phased out the national team quite yet. He's played exceptionally well here."
DB: "Siovanija with a good spell of attack, Dmitrov finding Leistner and he just misses from 24 yards. Then a few minutes after that, Dmitrov again, this time he runs with the ball and sees Dinev break and feeds a lovely ball, but Herrara is there to throw off the timing. Mindy the defense looking confident?
MC: "these three are the most capped players at the back, and their instinctual coverage of one another is a bit stronger than some of the other combinations we've seen, but to be fair, open play has not been the defensive issue."
DB: "and now into the 39th minute and here's Navarro again, she beats Kleinmann to the byline and he's forced to concede the corner. She's whips the first attempt into the box and a quick thinking Licht clears, again for a corner. On the second try, Navarro slips the ball short to Taborn and he tees her up, her chip is placed right where Haller has raced to from outside the box and his header needed only to be about six inches lower but then--disaster for Licht off the rebound--he's put the ball into the back of the net! Gary?"
GK: "unlucky, for both Haller and the defender, much like the own goal in the under 18's quarterfinal that was scored by the Commonwealth, Licht didn't really know much about it until the last second. he really had no chance to do anything constructive."
DB: "it was 2-0 and Siovanija came back again with some nice passing, Romanov and Dmitrov combing on a nice exchange, and Romanov getting one in on target, handled by Moyer. And there's where we stand with 45 minutes to go. Any other thoughts? Mindy?"
MC: "I think at 2 nil the whole thought process on substitutions has to change. Agahambri certainly isn't needed at this point and unless S and T get back into the match and unless they happen to get the match into extra time, I think Pam is content to keep her on the bench for now."
AD: "right now BP are in a position they can sort of nurse the match for awhile. I'd expect a big push from Siovanija right out of the dressing room, but if they can get to 60 or 65 minutes with this lead, you'll see Pam maybe bring Bozeman off for Monaghan, or Mason and go to five in the midfield."
GK: "I think she'll back the front chasers off for 10 minutes or so, just to keep a good handle on score and not get burned on a counterattack. But I agree with Mindy, as far as subs I think it will all about maintenance unless somehow they lose the lead."
DB: "OK that's all from here, thanks guys and we'll send you back out to the second half from Herzegovina City after these messages."
