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‘This game was unsafe’: Sam Mewis blasts CONCACAF ‘incompetency’ over Gold Cup semifinal
"The players were put at risk by incompetency and lack of consideration."
Sam Mewis questioned decision to play on flooded field: The United States women’s soccer team defeated Canada in the Gold Cup semifinal on Wednesday following a dramatic back-and-forth matchup was decided by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s penalty kick heroics.
The game was marred, however, by egregious field conditions after heavy rain in San Diego. Despite both teams being effectively unable to pass the ball on the ground — Jaedyn Shaw’s first half goal for the U.S. came from pouncing on a back-pass that stalled on the flooded field — elected to neither call the game off or even postpone it.
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Despite the eventual U.S. win (sending them into Sunday’s final against Brazil), former national team player and Massachusetts native Sam Mewis joined a chorus of voices who were not happy with CONCACAF (organizers of the Gold Cup tournament) for allowing the game to be played.
“This game was unsafe. The field was so waterlogged, and I really couldn’t believe that the match officials let the game continue,” said Mewis during a postgame video for “The Women’s Game.”
“It felt like a waste of time, especially for the players,” noted the former World Cup winner. “Then as the game kept going, I actually really started to feel concerned for the players. They were put in a position to put their bodies at risk for injuries, and that responsibility falls on CONCACAF, the tournament officials, even the federation officials, who had an obligation to advocate for their players in these conditions.”
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Mewis, who recently retired from her playing career at the age of 31 due to the ongoing effects of injuries, asked, “Who had the players’ backs last night?”
She offered an unsparing critique of CONCACAF’s organization.
“What I saw last night was upsetting because the players were put at risk by incompetency and lack of consideration.”
An official CONCACAF statement after the game put the decision on referee Katia Garcia: “It is solely at the discretion of the referee as to whether the field is safe and playable.”
CBS Sports rules expert Christina Unkel noted that despite the official statement, the reality is often more complicated.
“That being said, practically speaking, there is a match commissioner at each of these CONCACAF matches and as we saw within the first early minutes of this game, the referee went and demonstrated that the ball was not in fact rolling when she went over to near the fourth official station, which is where the match commissioner stands,” Unkel said on the CBS broadcast.
Trivia: Can you name the four countries the United States women have beaten in World Cup finals?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: Two from Asia, two from Europe.
Scores and schedules:
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The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs 4-1 at TD Garden on Thursday. Boston will face the Penguins at home on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Celtics lost to the Nuggets 115-109. Saturday offers a chance to get back in win column with a matchup in Phoenix against the Suns at 8:30 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the Revolution will be on the road to play Atlanta United at 7:30 p.m.
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The case against signing Russell Wilson: NFL reporter Albert Breer explained why New England might decide against pursuing signing the former Bronco.
On this day: In 2006, the Celtics overcame the 76ers 104-101 thanks to a triple-double from Paul Pierce (31 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists). Ryan Gomes added 29 points and 11 rebounds.
Daily highlight: Anthony Edwards saved the game for the Timberwolves with a wildly impressive chase-down block on Thursday.
Trivia answer: Norway, China, Japan, Netherlands
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