U.S. midfield suddenly a major problem with China looming

The news was not all good for the United States on Monday, despite their hard-fought 2-0 victory over Colombia in the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup.

Yes, the Americans advanced to face China in the quarterfinals on Friday. But when they take the pitch in Ottawa, the Canadian capital, they will do so without two key pieces of their attack.

In the 17th minute against Colombia, midfielder Lauren Holiday was issued a yellow card, her second of the Women’s World Cup. That means she automatically must sit out against China. Twenty-four minutes later, Megan Rapinoe suffered the same fate.

One half, two yellows, two starting midfielders lost for the biggest match of the tournament yet for the Americans.

Holiday’s statistics are nothing to write home about thus far (she has neither an assist nor a goal in this tournament), though she has played 360 minutes this tournament. And considering the lack of scoring for the American attack as a whole, there hasn’t been much for any one up front to brag about through four matches.

Thus the loss of Rapinoe could be particularly critical for the U.S. Rapinoe has played 35 fewer minutes than Holiday in the tournament, but she leads the Americans with two goals and has an assist, to boot.

With the Americans and Colombians tied at the half on Monday (and the U.S. being outplayed in those opening 45 minutes in the eyes of many), Rapinoe was the spark that lifted the favorites in the final 45.

Her pass to Alex Morgan in the 47th minute forced Colombian keeper Catalina Perez to make a decision. Perez came out to meet Morgan, but instead fouled the forward, drew a red card and gave the Americans a penalty kick … at which point the offensive struggles emerged once again, star Abby Wambach sending the PK wide of the net.

Nineteen minutes later, Rapinoe was the one who drew the foul in the box, giving the U.S. its second PK. Carli Lloyd, however, converted that one for a 2-0 lead.

"Yeah, it totally sucks," Rapinoe told the media of the booking after the match. "I mean, I knew that coming in and knew that that was part of it. It's not going to change the way I play. I have to come out and play hard. I felt it was a little undeserving, I think Cheney [Holiday] would feel the same way -- hers even more than mine -- but that's the way it is. We have tons of good people on the bench ready for China in Ottawa, and we'll just cheer our hearts out and hopefully be ready for the semifinal."

You can see highlights of the plays in the video below (and here).

"I feel confident in the players we have to come in and contribute," U.S. coach Jill Ellis told the media after the game.

With the U.S. offense struggling (six goals in four matches played, only four goals in group play) and the defense playing out of its mind (Hope Solo leads all players in saves, the Americans’ one goal against tied for tops in the tournament), those contributions will almost certainly have to come on offense.