Our developmental system on the women’s side is allowing the rest of the world to catch up. The number of teams that are now our equal is growing quickly. Those countries, like Nigeria, which defeated the U.S. on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw, are improving by leaps and bounds. We are moving in the wrong direction.

It’s really not about this particular group of players for the U.S., which showed the usual heart and grit that American teams demonstrate, but the international game progresses technically and tactically and as a system, as a soccer nation, our women’s game is not doing that. We will be addressing the many issues involved with that at TopDrawerSoccer.com in the coming weeks and months.

The team came out like a ball of fire, but it was evident that it could never sustain that kind of tempo through an entire match. Toward the end of the half Nigeria started to get more time on the ball and when they did, opportunities came along. It took a 2nd half set piece but Nigeria got the equalizer.

The U.S. had so many opportunities of its own from set pieces, but were unable to convert as the match ended up going to overtime, which was no uneventful overtime period by the way. Nobody was lacking heart on that field, but the winning goal wouldn’t come, with Kristen Mewis’ shot off the crossbar the closest call.

And so came the penalties and as you know, the U.S. record in these competitions is not that good. I was reminded during spot kicks that Brianna Scurry was so far off her line during the 1999 World Cup Final vs. China that her save should never have been allowed. Bianca Henninger got called for it this time, but I’ve sure never seen a kick retaken TWICE.

Nigeria celebrated like they’d just won the World Cup, but the U.S. reaction was perhaps more fitting. Again, it’s not so much about this particular team, but there are some serious issues going on with what we do to develop and identify talent nationwide.