A third Women’s World Cup title and a few million pieces of confetti in New York. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
In 2015, American soccer celebrated a third Women’s World Cup title, fretted about the erratic men’s program and toasted MLS’s 20th season. It welcomed the annual parade of European clubs on summer tour and Loretta Lynch’s investigation of Sepp Blatter and FIFA. Dozens of matches and moments caught our eye, but 10 stood out:
10. The Atomic Ant. Sebastian Giovinco is an Italian forward employed by a Canadian club, but his impact jolted U.S.-centered MLS. In his first year with Toronto FC, the 5-foot-4 attacker, whose nickname comes from a cartoon character, constructed the greatest season in league history with 22 goals and 16 assists for a record 38 points. MVP voting was a landslide. His production was both prolific and spectacular: swerving free kicks, long-range blasts, impossible angles, elegant footwork and cheeky touches.
9. Tree Tops. In just their fifth MLS season, the Portland Timbers defeated the Columbus Crew, 2-1, to become the first team from the soccer-mad Pacific Northwest to raise the MLS Cup trophy. In the first round of the playoffs, facing elimination in a penalty kick shootout, the Timbers watched a bid by Kansas City’s Saad Abdul-Salaam hit both posts without crossing the goal line. With a lifeline, they went ahead for good on a converted kick by goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and, ultimately won the Western Conference.
8. European Conquest. Okay, they were just friendlies, but seriously, the United States men won at world titan Netherlands … and at World Cup champion Germany … just five days apart … on winning goals in the closing minutes … by a German second-division forward from Hawaii? Get real. Yes, it happened in a 4-3 victory in Amsterdam and 2-1 decision in Cologne, thanks to Bobby Wood. The first match was pure madness as the Americans rebounded from a 3-1 deficit on goals by John Brooks, Danny Williams and Wood in the 70th minute and beyond.
7. Rose in Full Bloom. Regardless of rooting interests, the CONCACAF Cup between the United States and Mexico at the Rose Bowl was an epic scene and match. More than 93,000 spectators, more evenly balanced than past pro-Mexico crowds in Southern California, created a breathtaking backdrop of color and sound. Both teams scored early, both struck in extra time and, as penalty kicks loomed, Paul Aguilar sent El Tri to the FIFA Confederations Cup with a terrific angled volley.
6. Coaching Questions. After a fourth-place finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, an embarrassing defeat to Brazil, a setback to Mexico in a consequential match and other missteps, second-term coach Jurgen Klinsmann felt the heat from fans and pundits. He is not going to lose his job anytime soon – a $2.5 million-per-year pact runs through the 2018 World Cup in Russia – but many began questioning whether the team and broader programs are in the right hands.
5. Heading Out. At age 35, Abby Wambach will retire from soccer this month with the most international goals by a man or woman in global history. She will go out with NCAA and pro titles, two Olympic gold medals and, after three failed attempts, a World Cup crown. With size and strength, Wambach was the most imposing player the women’s game has ever seen. She also raised awareness of gender inequity in soccer, i.e. the use of artificial turf in the Women’s World Cup.
4. Tarnished Gold. The U.S. men sputtered through the Gold Cup group stage and breezed past roster-depleted Cuba in the quarterfinals before being upset by Jamaica, 2-1 – their first defeat to a Caribbean foe on home grounds since 1969. In the other semifinal, Mexico benefited from questionable officiating by Mark Geiger in the late moments of regulation. Furious about the calls, the losing Panamanians posed for a postgame photo in front of a banner calling CONCACAF “corrupt thieves.”
3. FIFA Follies. The world soccer player of the year? How about U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, whose office has been at the forefront of the investigation into corruption at the upper echelons of the sport’s international governing body. Criminal charges have been brought against 34 people and several companies in what Lynch termed “decades of systemic corruption.” The probe helped force out Sepp Blatter, effective this February, and prompt sweeping reforms a the Zurich-based organization.
2. Goal Oriented. First, she scored on a running stab, then a one-touch from close range. Two quick goals in a World Cup final? Carli Lloyd had already made history. But the goal that launched her into super-stardom came on a shot from midfield, capping a 16-minute hat trick and one of the greatest individual performances in a World Cup final by either gender. She had also been instrumental in getting the Americans to Vancouver, scoring in each of the three previous knockout rounds.
1. Champions! The U.S. program’s 16-year wait for a third women’s world title ended in resounding fashion, a 5-2 victory over Japan before thousands of U.S. supporters at sold-out BC Place in Vancouver and a record 26.7 million watching on TV back home. Lloyd was the star of the match and tournament, but goalkeeper Hope Solo and a backline anchored by Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston were critical to overcoming a rough patch early in the competition. Jill Ellis, the soft-spoken coach, kept a steady hand on a squad that got better with each round.
