12:42 PM – Just realized the Yankees are playing at 3:07 PM today. I’ll be watching that instead. Sorry, guys.

12:19 PM: Let’s post this! Time for lunch and the NFL Today on CBS. Back in about 15 minutes.

After our fantastic result on Monday night against Spurs, our old foe Arsenal are next up at Old Trafford for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. Arsenal come into the game with an injury and suspension problem. But every United fan knows that you never take the wily old Frenchmen and his Gooners lightly.

We will again be running a live blog throughout the match with comments from our writers and readers on the game. The blog will be kicking off at around 3.30pm with team news and pre-match chat. There are a number of ways you can join in the live blog:

1. Click on the link below to enter the live blog site and main feed. The console will allow you to post comments and join in the chat.
2. If you are on Twitter, include the hashtag #TFLive with your tweet and it will appear on the Live Blog feed
3. The Live Blog console is compatible with all major Smartphones and iPad, so if you are streaming the match on your PC you can still join in with the Live Blog.

We look forward to seeing you there, and cheering on The Champions with The Faithful.

To enter the Live Blog console Click Here.

United return to Monday Night Football for our first home game of the season, with Spurs being the visiting team and kicking off their league campaign. Kick Off is 8pm and it is live on Sky Sports.

We will again be running a live blog throughout the match with comments from our writers and readers on the game. There are a number of ways you can join in the live blog:

1. Click on the link below to enter the live blog site and main feed. The console will allow you to post comments and join in the chat.
2. If you are on Twitter, include the hashtag #TFLive with your tweet and it will appear on the Live Blog feed
3. The Live Blog console is compatible with Smartphones and iPad, so if you are streaming the match on your PC you can still join in with the Live Blog.

So join in the fun and wax lyrical with our writers, hopefully to the tune of three points.

<a href=”Click Here” target=”_blank”>Click here to join in the Live Blog

Welcome to the opening game of the 2011/12 season and the start of a new feature for The Faithful MUFC. We will be hosting a live blog throughout the game and we would love for you to come along and give us your opinion on the game, the line-up, the summer signings, in fact anything to do with United.

The event will go live at 3.15pm on Sunday 14th August, just in time to bring you team news and to start the build up to the game. All you need to do is to click on the link below which will open the live blog console.

Click Here for the West Brom v United live blog

We look forward to chatting to you and hopefully celebrating a good three points!

Well the new season is under way and it’s already looking like its going to be a good one. We here at The Faithful will be bringing you a new, match-day feature this season, starting with tomorrow’s game away at West Brom. We will be running a live blog throughout the game which is open to any fans looking at sharing an opinion with us about the game, the team or absolutely anything to do with United. Twitter has given United fans around the world the chance to speak to each other, and that point is always true leading up to, and during, match-days. But Twitter can also be an infuriating place during this time, as there is no structure to the discussions and you can miss tweets very easily. The live blog will give you a platform with more structure and less hussle-bussle than struggling with a Twitter feed.

The Live blog will start roughly 30-45 minutes before kick-off on match days, bringing you the build up to the game. This will include team news, polls, videos and much more. We will be continuing the talk throughout the game, with our writers giving you their opinion on how they think the game is going, and conversing with fans joining us for the live blog. The live blog will run until about 30 minutes after the game has finished, giving the writers and fans a chance to get their point across about how they felt the game went, player performance and Man of the Match rating.

Mostly though, the live blog will be about you, The Faithful’s readers, and your chance to share your views with other fans around the world and with The Faithful writers. We hope that you will pop and join us during the first live blog of the season, tomorrow afternoon, at about 3.15pm. Go on, give us a go. You know you want to…

Can this be it? Will the United States cap off their run through the World Cup with a victory over the upstart Japan squad, giving them a record-breaking three Women’s World Cup championships? Or will their miracle come from behind, last second victory over the favored Brazilian team go for naught? Be sure to keep us open in a tab throughout the game and refresh from time to time as we present you with yet another Strong Move Live Blog, this one chronicling the match between the United States and Japan. Coverage starts at 2:45 EST, but I’ll probably jump on a little earlier. Be there or be a failure.

1:31 – We have a little over an hour until the game actually starts, but I’d just like to say that I am completely flabbergasted that probably THE most successful post on this blog has been the post-mortem blog I did for the United States-Brazil women’s match last week. A blog founded on all things male and our most successful post was on…WOMEN’S SPORTS?!?! That’s irony incarnate. But hey, I’ll take it. We’re all about giving the people what they want.

1:52 - Speaking of giving the people what they want, here’s a bonus picture of Alex Morgan…

And Hope Solo. We haven’t forgotten about her, just because I’m more fond of Miss Morgan.

Hey, we’re a man’s blog, we’re gonna fawn over these girls. Athletic, talented, AND hot?! Mmmmm, yes please!

2:01 - Heather Mitts too.

2:03 - And that’ll be pretty much it for the male chauvinism in this entry. Just reported that Amy Rodriguez will be on the bench to start the game, Lauren Cheney will get the nod in her place. She’s a bit more of a midfielder, but they’ll probably change the alignment a bit. Rapinoe also getting the start as well.

2:07 - HOLYFUCKINGSHIT! On the flip side, check out this video of Abby Wambach getting a serious gash on her forehead then getting it STAPLED and not even flinching! Thanks to Deadspin for having this catch my attention.

2:21 - Japan really has the underdog thing going for them; who would’ve thought they would’ve come this far? The upset victory over Germany really propelled them. I like the way they play: fast with a lot of passes. That’s about the extent of my knowledge of Japanese soccer. I really think for the U.S. to win this game they gotta control possession, especially at midfield. The substitutions and possible realignment reflect that myself and the coaches are on the same page. Going on the record and saying the U.S. takes it 2-1. Nice try Japan, thanks for playing. I just think the stage is way too big for them.

2:25 - By the way, if you think I’m gonna write out all the names on the Japan team, you’ve got another thing coming.

2:28 - I have never heard Hope Solo talk until now. Her voice is hotter than she is if that makes any sense.

2:33 - And the views keep coming! For…THE POST-MORTEM BLOG?!?!?! Guys guys, that’s old news. Hop on here folks, this one is for the game tonight!

2:40 - Five minutes til showtime. Pretty solid crowd. Also just realized this is the first time I’ve ever heard Japan’s national anthem. I give it a B-, nothing special. And here’s our national anthem, which I’d give an A- just for the record.

2:44 - Close to four in the morning in Japan?! I’m sorry, if this game was at that time here, I’d be sleeping. Actually, who am I kidding? I’d be up, I have nothing to do. I’d just need better drugs to stay up.

2:45 - 4-4-2 alignment but I agree with Foudy, it’s gonna be more like a 4-4-1-1 with Wambach playing forward, Cheney a little further back. Really like Rapinoe getting the start, love the energy she provided anytime she’d come into the game. AND HERE WE GO, WE’RE OFF!

2:46 - Cheney with a chance early, but tries to take it herself. Unfortunately no one around cause she could’ve passed it into the box if anyone was home so they could’ve slammed it in. Corner for the U.S. Nice start.

2:49 - Damn, these Japanese are fucking fast!

2:50 - Really intriguing matchup, love the contrast in styles. Makes for a good game to watch. Lots of open spaces for Japan to work with. And here comes Wambach…

2:52 - Nothing doing on that chance, the U.S. should be more patient with their opportunities, they’re gonna need to control the tempo a little better. The speed of Japan is really gonna test the endurance of the United States. But they have to be patient. Approaching eight minutes in the match.

2:54 - A NEAR MISS BY THE U.S. Ball played from the corner by Rapinoe, just went wide of the post. Nice look to Cheney. Wambach then followed with a blast that just went north of the crossbar. Japan’s defense seems on the ropes a bit.

2:56 - Every long pass to Ohno or any other forward for Japan it seems like they can catch up with it.

2:57 - LLOYD MISSES OVER THE CROSSBAR AND THEN RAPINOE GETS HER CHANCE BUT MISSES ON THE OPPOSITE POST. Lots of opportunities so far, you can’t ask for much more, but you gotta capitalize. Still under fifteen minutes have elapsed in the match and a handful of open looks for the U.S.

3:02 – Soccer fever in the USA, says Darke, after Obama tweeted about the women’s team. One can only hope. Can this be the final piece for soccer to catch on in this country? I doubt it, but we can only hope.

3:04 - Rapinoe hits the post. Absolutely love the way she plays, she’s a difference maker. The unsung hero of the team.

3:06 - Ian Darke is a better man than me for just plowing through these names. Then again, he’s a professional and I’m not. When I called games for Rutgers, I had to learn all the names. Granted, the University of Tokyo isn’t in the Big East but still.

3:08 - First foul of the game called on Rapinoe. Smooth game so far. Over twenty minutes have gone by, still 0-0.

3:10 - Corner kick coming up for the U.S…

3:10 - …and Wambach plays it right to the goalie. Set pieces will be important, cause like Foudy said, Japan is much shorter than the United States. Can you really say that? I mean, I guess it’s true but still.

3:13 - Approaching thirty minutes, I’d say advantage USA thus far. Yet, a lot of squandered opportunities and Solo hasn’t really been tested so far, which I do not like. All you need is for some action on her side when she hasn’t seen much. That’s how mistakes happen.

3:14 - PERFECTLY PLACED PEACH BY WAMBACH HITS THE CROSSBAR AND MISSES. Another unlucky bounce for the U.S.

3:16 - Now Japan with a chance, an excellent pass. Poor angle and Solo easily scoops it in. First time Japan has been able to get past the United States line of defense really.

3:20 – No World Cup in 12 years for the U.S.? They’re talking like as if they’re trying to break the Curse of the Bambino here.

3:22 - Christie Rampone with an effort that’s too strong. The more missed opportunities, the more of an advantage I give to Japan. Japan knows they’re still in the game and the psychological factor of so many near-misses could haunt the U.S. This is how upsets happen. They’ll start pressing.

3:25 - Wow, Japan is so dangerous on those long passes just cause of their speed they can get under it. They showed why right there, but Solo comes up and grabs it. Japan reminds me of the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Banking on the long ball and speed.

3:26 - About five minutes to go in the half depending on stoppage time. Looks like the first half will end scoreless.

3:27 - Boxx crosses it in for a nice look, but no matter, the refs deem it went out of play before the pass. So far the officials haven’t been able to put their stamp on this game as they did with the quarterfinals match between the U.S. and Brazil.

3:31 - Japan with some decent looks before the conclusion of the first half. And there’s the whistle. Looks like this game is gonna be tighter than some people thought. Expect a wild second half. Lots of pressing by the U.S., but not enough converted chances. Let’s see if fatigue plays a factor for either team in the second half. That’s going to be the difference maker in this game. Like I said, so far I think the United States has played better than Japan and have been able to implement their game plan, but I give the advantage right now to Japan. I think the U.S. does a better job playing the underdog role. I still think they’ll take this game, but it’s gonna take another Herculean effort towards the end to pull it off.

3:41 - Apparently, Coach Pia Sundhage is asking the team to be more aggressive in a very animated halftime speech according to Bob Holtzman. Uh oh, don’t like the sound of that. That’ll open up more chances for Japan, especially if they don’t capitalize. Alex Morgan seen warming up and you can bet that she’s gonna be coming in at some point. The question is: for whom?

3:44 - Solid amount of views thus far, so while there are commercials on the television, this is my chance: BOOKMARK US, MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE, DO WHATEVER. We have a lot cooking for you guys. Be sure to check out our “Greatest Hits” on the side bar for some of our best posts and be sure to look for more in the two running series we have, #BandsYouNeedToSeeLiveBeforeYouDie and Mein Kampf: A Server’s Manifesto.

3:47 - Action is starting up once again. Lauren Cheney has her foot wrapped in ice with an undisclosed injury, so Alex Morgan comes in for her to start the second half. She does bring more speed and some fresh legs.

3:48 - Agree to disagree Tucker Max. His latest tweet, “Even with hot ass girls like @alexmorgan13 & @hopesolo running around, soccer is still boring as shit.” Just because it’s 0-0 doesn’t mean this game is boring and I hope this live blog and our other one has shown you why.

3:51 - A SCRUM IN FRONT OF THE GOALPOST AFTER A BRILLIANT CROSS. MORGAN CAN”T FIND A WAY TO PUT IT IN AND JAPAN CLEARS IT. Another missed chance for the U.S.

3:52 - Lloyd with some space, but she pushes it and no one is there to help her out. Bad angle and a desperation shot. This is what I feared going into the second half. Have to be patient and not push, your chances will come. Can’t open it up for Japan, they’re way too fast. And with that, Wambach shanks it.

3:55 - Starting to learn some of the Japanese names. I know Ohno and Ando. Say that last sentence five times fast.

3:56 - A corner coming up for Japan. This is not looking promising for the U.S.

3:57 - Nothing comes of it however, and the pass in goes untouched. A really nice look though. Play resumes as normal. Corner now coming up for the U.S.

3:58 - Way too much air under these corners for the United States, it gives Japan a lot more time to react and get under the pass. Set pieces were gonna be critical, just blast it in and use your height advantage.

4:00 - About sixty minutes have gone by in this match and still scoreless. I said 2-1 and I’ll stick to it, but this is not the kind of game many people expected.

4:03 - Japan has done a nice job adjusting on defense and they’re really putting the clamps on Wambach and Rapinoe.

4:03 - Another corner with a lot of air under it. We’ll see what they do with this upcoming one…

4:04 - Nothing doing AND JAPAN WITH A BREAKAWAY…OOOOOOOH but the flag goes up! Questionable call, but this is precisely why the U.S. can’t push as much.

4:06 - Nice header by WAMBACH but WHAT A SAVE! Just gets a hand on it does the Japan goalie.

4:07 - And just like that, Japan subs out the only two players I knew.

4:08 - Exchange between me and my mom just now.

Her: “What’s the score?”

Me: “Zero zero”

Her: “How boring!”

This is why soccer will never catch on in the States. By the way, she’s seen exactly zero minutes of this game.

4:09 - AND ALEX MORGAN WITH A STRIKE ON A ONE ON ONE, GREAT PLACEMENT WITH EXCELLENT FORCE, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL

4:11 - With about twenty minutes left in the match, the U.S. pulls ahead 1-0. Morgan can expect some more marriage proposals on her Facebook. Also, I’ll give you one guess as to who set up that goal? Yep, Megan Rapinoe.

4:12 - This game is far from over however.

4:13 - We can’t bank on soccer catching on in the United States, but we’re witnessing the birth of a new superstar for U.S. women’s soccer: Alex Morgan. She will be the biggest winner from all of this.

4:16 - It might be boring and no one wants to see this, but I think it’s time for the U.S. to sit back and simply play ball control. You still got a few substitutions left. Last thing you want is for Japan to connect on one of their long passes after a missed chance to knot this game up.

4:19 - Lyme disease? What the hell?

4:20 - About ten minutes to go, Japan is gonna need to dig deep here.

4:21 - ……..

4:22 - TERRIBLE clear by Krieger and Japan TIES IT UP, 1-1. Great opportunistic goal by Japan.

4:24 - What an exciting game so far. Anyone who says otherwise is simply sexist. An aside: read our post titled “Quest For Ratings”, where we present a scoring system for female looks!

4:26 - That goal could haunt the U.S., just a careless error on the back end. This game would look MUCH different if they still had that goal lead. In fact, if not for that goal, it would certainly be a two goal lead. Japan content just playing for extra time at this point.

4:28 - The longer the game, the more views we get. PLAY ON!

4:29 - If you like what you’re reading, like us on Facebook, comment, Tweet us, do whatever. And of course, don’t forget to read all of our other posts. Japan with a near miss there, but self-promotion takes precedence right now. Just kidding. Kinda.

4:31 - Lloyd loses her footing in the box, U.S. controlling it. Two minutes added time.

4:32 – O’Reilly way too strong. Looks like it’s EXTRA TIME.

4:33 - Bonus video of the U.S. goal with a fat kid flashing the camera during the celebration as we go into extra time. I need to take a tinkle. Potty break

4:37 - Isn’t it fitting if this game ends in PK’s? Damn, I hope not but penalty kicks are pretty awesome.

4:39 - Just for all of you non-soccer fans, extra time is NOT golden goal format. Two periods and then if it’s still tied, it’s penalties. Wambach with a solid header that’s grabbed by the Japanese goalie.

4:40 - What I mentioned before and now Foudy just mentioned: U.S. with still two subs. One of them is Rodriguez…

4:41 - Rapinoe with a cross that’s waaay too strong. Slow paced so far in extra time, neither team really making any Strong Moves thus far, kinda just feeling each other out.

4:43 - As much as I was pumped when Spain took the World Cup in 2010, this has been a better finals game. Morgan with a nice chance going one on two, makes her own shot, but hooks it wide. I can’t stress how fantastic she’s been in this game so far.

4:45 - First yellow card of the game goes to Miyama. Very clean game though other than that. Rodriguez and Cox are warming up on the sidelines for the U.S.

4:47 - About halfway through our first fifteen minute period and not much doing thus far on either end…

4:48 - Nice attack by Wambach on the play in from O’Reilly, but can’t get in front of her defender so it amounts to nothing. Darke mentions the it is now close to dawn in Japan. What a surreal moment this must be over there.

4:49 - Heather O’Reilly has done an excellent job of pushing the ball forward, another unheralded part of the team. A couple minutes away from the 105 mark.

4:51 - WAMBACH DOES IT AGAIN, HEADS IT IN ON A CROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKES IT 2-1 USA USA USA

4:52 - The U.S. had been threatening with a few mildly dangerous crosses, but that one by the one and only Alex Morgan does the trick and puts them up by one. Right place, right time for Wambach and a great job of diagnosing the play by Morgan.

4:54 - The end of the first period of extra time comes. The U.S. up by one. Can they hold on for another fifteen minutes?

4:55 - And now all the sportswriters on Twitter are all on the Alex Morgan train. Remember, you read it here first folks. Alex Morgan is the future of American soccer.

4:57 - A scary set of fumbling around, reminiscent of the first goal, but this time the U.S. clears it. About twelve minutes to go before the U.S. are champions.

4:59 - The Japanese are not giving up without a fight. A few OK looks. Approaching ten minutes to go. U.S. controlling it now.

5:01 - SOLO WAY OUT OF POSITION, GREAT CROSS IN BY MIYAMA, BUT THE U.S. ABLE TO SALVAGE IT BECAUSE NOBODY WAS HOME TO KNOCK IT THOUGH FOR THEM. Score stays 2-1. Play seemed very similar to the tying goal against Brazil.

5:02 - Rapinoe gets subbed out and gets a huge ovation. Well deserved.

5:03 - Close to five minutes left. Japan has it. They have to press now, but WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY. Solo playing with fire, one of Japan’s long passes almost connected. Rampone knocks it away. The U.S. has been very fortunate thus far in extra time. Two now very near misses a few minutes apart from each other. Solo is a little dinged up.

5:06 - Hole. Lee. Shit.

5:06 - Solo too slow to react and on a corner kick, JAPAN TIES IT 2-2. My oh my, what a fucking game. Three minutes left til penalties. The underdog Japanese stay at it!

5:08 - O’REILLY WITH A CROSS IN TO WAMBACH AND SHE BOOTS IT WIDE! Score stays tied, another great chance for the U.S. Remember, U.S.’s last World Cup win was in 1999 on penalties. WAIT!

5:10 - ALEX MORGAN ON A BREAKAWAY GETS TAKEN DOWN! RED CARD! BUT NO PENALTY, IT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. FREE KICK COMING UP

5:11 - HEATH ALMOST OFF OF THE DEFLECTION BUT JAPAN SWEATS IT OUT. STAYS TIED AND THAT WAS INDEED THE FINAL ACT. WE’RE GOING TO PK’S

5:13 - They’re tending to Solo who appears to be banged up. What a fricking game.

5:13 - Whichever team takes this, fully deserves it. Not often you can say that. Keep in mind Rapinoe was subbed out. she can’t take penalty kicks.

5:14 - Not gonna embellish, just gonna update with name and whether they scored or not for everyone following. Enjoy.

5:16 - U.S. Boxx has it BLOCKED

5:17 - Japan Miyama SCORES

5:17 - U.S. Lloyd hits it high and MISSES

5:18 - Ja-pan Nagasato has it BLOCKED BY SOLO and keeps them alive.

5:19 - U.S. Heath, Rapinoe’s sub, has it BLOCKED.

5:19 - Japan Sagaduchi SCORES after a tip by Solo which nearly saved it. Is that the dagger?

5:20 - U.S. Wambach SCORES to keep them alive once again.

5:21 - AND KUMAGAI DOES IT. JAPAN WINS AND TAKES IT IN PENALTIES. THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD TAKES THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FINAL AND ARE NOW CHAMPIONS. WHAT A FANTASTIC GAME.

5:23 - Certainly not the way to finish for the U.S. and this is going to hurt for a really really LONG time. The U.S. team is stunned, while jubilation on the other sideline. Two last chance goals, one in regular time and one in extra time, proved to be the difference for Japan, as well as all the near misses for the U.S. team early on. A possible Solo injury perhaps factored, as well as the questionable decision to take out Megan Rapinoe. Lots of questions loom for the U.S. team. But the future is Alex Morgan.

5:28 - Maybe the United States works better from behind. Sure looks that way and is what they seem more comfortable with.

5:30 - That marks the end to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, a fantastic game and a fantastic tournament. That does it for me over here, congratulations to Japan for a well-deserved victory. We’ll see how long this stays in the conscience of Americans (my guess, not long) and if people seem to start caring about soccer (my guess, they won’t). As for me, I’m proud to say this has marked the most successful day here on the Strong Move. I guess women’s sports is where it’s at? All that being said with the lockout coming to an end, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Keep your eyes open for some updates during the week and be sure to check out all of our past posts. Til next time fools.

The post-mortem blog last week for the USA-Brazil match was a huge success so, starting at around 2 PM Eastern, I will be here, on the Strong Move live blogging the Women’s World Cup Final in a classic East meets West matchup: USA vs. Japan. The last time the U.S. won a World Cup was in 1999, when they took down China. Can history repeat itself twelve years later, this time against their Asian brethren? We’ll find out tomorrow. I’ve given you an ample amount of time to get ready, so go to the liquor store in the morning and grab your favorite beverages and get ready to cozy up with your laptop and watch the game with me.

We’re calling this a post-mortem blog as opposed to a live blog for obvious reasons. Join me in watching the replay of an instant classic. For those of you who watched the game already, spoiler alert: the U.S. wins. And that’s the way it should be. Saddle up on your couch in your favorite pj’s with your favorite bottle of wine or tub of ice cream, it’s a late night edition of the Strong Move’s Live Blog and we head into uncharted territory with this one: women’s sports. Leave your sexism and machismo on your YouPorn site you have on the other Firefox tab.

11:16 - For those of you playing a drinking game for tonight (an aside: if you are playing a drinking game for an encore presentation of a women’s World Cup game, you need to assess your life. And your apparent drinking problem) for the game and/or the analysts talking pre or post game, take a shot 1) anytime they mention Abby Wambach willing the team to win 2) anytime they talk about how shitty the refs are (well, were) 3) anytime they mention how if this script were pitched in Hollywood, it would be rejected for being too corny. Extra bonus rule if you want to go into a coma, take a shot anytime Ian Darke is awesome.

11:25 - I would just like to say, I do respect women’s sports (except the WNBA). I even liked calling the women’s basketball games much more than the men’s basketball games for my college radio station. So I hate what I’m about to say. But this has to be done anytime a guy is watching a women’s game. I have to say who the hottest player is. Sorry to all of you Hope Solo fanatics out there, my vote goes out to Alex Morgan.

11:35 - Watching Sportscenter now as we get ready for the encore presentation. Just so we’re on the same page. Also getting Taco Bell delivered to me by Miss StrongMove.

12:02 – Bob Ley is a fucking champion. I’m reading the new ESPN book and he’s one of the most compelling characters in it. Such a professional. The exact opposite of what I am and want to become. But he’s not a tool. He toes that fine line between professional and tool. Mad props.

12:07 - Ref is a graphic designer? Maybe that’s why she sucks.

12:08 - Marta really works as a villain character. Just look at that face, she’s so evil! Love the way the crowd booed her at the end while she went to take her PK’s.

12:10 - And here’s the own goal. Nice cross. Confused as to what the Brazilians were complaining about. New wrinkle to the drinking game, take a shot anytime the Brazilians are unsportsmanlike.

12:18 - Pretty solid shot of the wave, a really great American crowd showed up for the game. U.S. definitely with the advantage so far in the game after the own goal by Brazil. Doing a great job pushing and keeping them unsettled.

12:20 - Wambach almost with a header on a long challenge. This is what literary types would call foreshadowing…

12:25 - Didn’t realize how well the U.S. started out, I missed the beginning because I was asleep. Brazil looks really timid thus far. The midfield of the U.S. is swarming all over the place. Real nice job by our girls. That was weird. Pretend I didn’t say that.

12:32 - Too strong of a shot by Marta on the breakaway. She’s a bitch but what speed she showed there. And damn is she villainous.

12:34 - What a chance for the U.S. but the flag was up anyway. Why is the Brazil goalie screaming? This seems almost like a movie I’ve seen before. Victory. The analysts are right. This just seems way too scripted. The bad calls from the refs haven’t even started yet.

12:37 - And just when I say that, here’s a yellow…

12:47 - I’m waiting for the moment in which the wheels start to come off for the U.S. Everything seems to be according to plan thus far. Great alignment shift early on. The Brazilians haven’t been able to slice up the defense.

12:50 - Starting to see it a little now I guess. Like Foudy said, haven’t really gotten a pattern down on offense. But the defense has been stellar.

12:51 - Boxx is on a club called Magicjack. That’s pretty fucking awesome. Have no idea what that means though.

12:53 - Apparently it’s a USB device. Oh women’s professional sports…

12:54 - Already seeing the bad blood between the two teams. Apparently after the 4-0 result in their match last World Cup, the Brazil team had a pretty raucous celebration in the hotel both teams were staying at. That was a main talking point before this match. Makes the victory all the more sweeter.

12:56 - One nothing U.S. at the half. Lots of pressure from the U.S. at the beginning of the match, but they slowed it up later. Not a lot of ball possession though, which is probably their biggest weakness. Like I said before, the defense has been swarming all game though. We’ll see what happens in the second half when the action picks up and around the time I awoke from my deep slumber and started catching the game.

12:59 - Damnit, these ASPCA commercials are getting to me. I’m looking at getting a dog or a cat in the near future. Now I know why they call them puppy dog eyes.

1:04 – Second half is underway…

1:06 – Fabiana needs to calm down. It’s just a throw-in. Way too emotional is the Brazilian squad. All they do is flop, complain, and then when they get carted off, they get up under their own power and get back in the game. If the U.S. lost this game, what a travesty that would’ve been. Then again, no one in this country cares about soccer. Much less women’s soccer.

1:09 - Solo has not lost against Brazil. This probably should’ve been talked about much earlier. She played out of her mind. Lloyd gets away with a handball, which would’ve merited a second yellow and she would’ve gotten sent off. The one break the U.S. got.

1:12 - By the way, just me editorializing a bit. Yes, the men’s is a higher level of competition, but if this wasn’t one of the best games of soccer you’ve seen, you’re just sexist. I’m the first to shit on women’s sports, but damnit, I was yelling near the end. I was also only in my boxers. Was quite the scene.

1:15 - Darke very observant in saying perhaps Brazil getting in the refs ears would prove costly later on when judgment calls come into play. Something I’ve always said but many times goes unnoticed.

1:18 - What a save by Solo, goes up and gets it and grabs it again on the rebound. Really tough save there. Brazil is now starting to really get after it though, pressing much much more and the U.S. defense is letting up a bit.

1:20 - Another great suggestion by Darke, U.S. should’ve gone 4-5-1 around this point. Need to control the ball more, especially at midfield.

1:21 - What a kick into the box by Rapinoe…and Lloyd heads it off the bar! That would’ve completely changed the complexion of the game completely. That’s what’s beautiful about the sport. Such a small margin for error in every aspect of the game.

1:23 - Look at the way the ref casually took the red card out and started strutting. That ladies and gentlemen, is a make-up call. Not an atrocious call, but not good either. But here’s where shit gets nuts…

1:25 - SOLO SAVES IT! The balls on her…uhhhhh wait, no.

1:25 - Encroachment?!?!?!?! That’s never called. Something like the tuck rule. Marta takes this penalty kick and now takes it. Marta goes nuts, score tied at one. U.S. is down to 10 players. Darke is incensed. Rightfully so. U-S-A chants starting up. This is the part in the movie where the villain cheats a bit and matches up the game and things are looking down. Fucking Brazil. The Cobra Kai of professional soccer…

1:29 -  Morgan looking to come into the game now. Yes, she does have fresh legs doesn’t she…

1:30 - Not gonna lie, at this point I thought the U.S. was fucked. I’ve rarely seen a team rise above a terrible officiating call. It’s just so demoralizing when you realize you have two opponents to face.

1:36 - Thirteen minutes to go in regulation and the score doesn’t look like it’s going to budge at all. Brazil content with kinda just sitting on it and picking their spots, U.S. just trying to stay afloat with ten players.

1:39 - Here’s where the crowd starts turning on Marta. Falls down and milks it a bit. The boobirds rain down on her.

1:40 - Really like the name ‘Wambach’ by the way. Just thought I’d put that out there.

1:41 - That last set of challenges was the “He’s cut! He’s not a machine, he’s a man!” moment from Rocky IV. The U.S. drew the first blood after going down to ten, and Brazil is starting to look sluggish.

1:43 - Solid amount of views so far, more than I expected at this time. It’s two in the morning on a Sunday night. We’re only reaching heroin addicts at this point. And bums like me. Actually, it’s very promising not to see this number any higher. I have a renewed faith in society.

1:47 - Big reason why U.S. won: much more successful in their set pieces. Actually productive and got them at very opportune times.

1:48 - Tremendously arbitrary yellow card given to Rapinoe. What the fuck is going on? Agree with Foudy, think it was for complaining. But the decision was so whimsical. Once again, Darke handling the controversy brilliantly.

1:51 - “Just not able to get Wambach at the end of chances,” says Darke. Hmmmmmmm

1:52 - End of regulation. The U.S. got a few nice blow in there before the end of the period.

1:56 – And the U.S. even down to ten players playing great defense on the ball.

1:58 - Just as I say that, Marta knocks in her second of the game. At this point, I thought game over. But I also said, much better that they scored this early so you have all of extra time ahead of you knowing what you have to do. An apparent offside that wasn’t called after the U.S. was called just a minute ago for the same infraction, but what else is new?

2:00 - I’m really gonna watch how the U.S. was able to send players and still not let up on defense. That’s really what’s most puzzling and amazing to me. Another look at the Marta goal, just a really fantastic kick. She’s still a bitch though.

2:02 - What a look by Wambach, just missed going inside the post after Andrea punches it wide.

2:05 - Here’s the start of of the string of amazing plays by Solo. Really impressive all game long, but she really started thriving when her back was against the all and when she was pissed.

2:10 - No substitution yet for the U.S., really showing how fit they really are. Foudy argues that they should use one. Darke asks her who they should bring in. Foudy is frazzled a bit and mentions a name. Darke nonchalantly shoots her down. Really good at putting the analyst down without them really realizing it, even after he gave them a chance to show off what they know.

2:13 - Darke asking Foudy about her own history and she doesn’t know. Is it that much to ask for to hope your analysts know about their own professional career? Darke does his homework.

2:14 - U.S. player goes down in the box and the refs swallow their whistle. So much for banking on a makeup call. Was a decent no call, but you gotta figure a makeup call was in the cards there.

2:17 - At this point, the U.S. is way too tentative, not enough chances are being taken. Just not enough numbers in the box. Alex Morgan, as beautiful as she is, hasn’t been able to get anything going.

2:19 - And here’s where Brazil starts to show their true colors. Lots of time wasting going on here on the sidelines. I know it’s part of the game, but come on…

2:21 - Is there a more desperate part of a game in any sport, down by one in soccer with the minutes ticking away?

2:22 - Erica goes down now and some of the same treatment. Wambach goes over to give the ref an earful, nothing much doing. You can see the frustration on their faces. Erica gets off the stretcher. A chorus of well-deserved boos.

2:24 - Rapinoe doing a great job on corners, but no one really home. Tick tick tick tick. U-S-A chants starting up again, lots of neutral fans there as well.

2:26 - Lloyd misses wide. Darke declares game over. I definitely thought so.

2:28 - Here comes the U.S.!…But Lloyd way too strong on that one. Three minutes extra time.

2:29 - RAPINOE WITH A CROSS IN…TO WAMBACH WHO HEADS IT IN. CROWD GOES WILD. Marta and the rest of the Brazil team looks shocked. Great pass by Rapinoe, who’s quietly had a spectacular game. Can’t ask for a better way to finish the game really.

2:31 - Poetic justice indeed, Darke. How much more of this can there possibly be asks Darke. Not much more, we’re going into PENALTY KICKS!

2:33 - Wambach rallying the troops before the kicks. At this point, I knew this game belonged to the U.S. On the anniversary of the 1999 game, we have another classic.

2:35 - Don’t think I’d be able to take penalty kicks. I just wouldn’t be able to handle it. All that said, I really love it when games end like this. I know, I know, it seems almost not fair. But I’m all for it. And here…we…go…

2:37 - Way fucking off the line. Nice try. U.S. gets another show and NAILS IT. Goes top shelf with that one does Boxx.

2:38 - Solo doesn’t even try for that one and Brazil equalizes. Lloyd’s turn now and she’s missed quite a bit in this game…but goes the opposite way and hits the back of the net to go back up one.

2:39 - BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2:40 - Agree with Foudy, don’t understand why Marta is second in line. I’d have her much later when the pressure was mounting. She goes the same way as the first Brazil shot. AND WAMBACH ANSWERS RIGHT BACK! Didn’t even look up.

2:41 - SOLO WITH A FANTASTIC SAVE! AND RAPINOE GETS THE NEXT! U-S-A! U-S-A!

2:43 - Easy does it for Brazil. Krieger can end it…

2:43 - WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! SHE DOES IT! A MAN DOWN FOR MOST OF THE SECOND HALF END IT IN PENALTIES.

2:44 – Overcoming adversity is what champions are made of. It may be too early to call and they might very well lost in the semis against France, but looking at the rest of the field remaining, the U.S. has a great shot to take it.

2:49 - I don’t think Sundhage knew what “getting off the hook” means.

2:51 - And there it is “Abby Wambach WILLED this team to win.” A running joke between friends of mine, but let’s just say this a a great cop out and bullshit phrase any analyst will utter. Not even sure what this phrases means, but we heard it a lot during these NBA Playoffs. Think Dirk.

2:53 - And that’ll be that folks. It’s three in the morning, it’s time for us bums to get to sleep. And for all those heroin addicts to find some infomercials to watch and do some more heroin. I’ll see most of you tomorrow from your office computer. I will most definitely be sleeping. Here’s to our country. Brazil, you may have stunning looking women. But tonight, victory is all ours. That being said, I’m going to love going to your country in a few years for the World Cup and getting shitfaced. So no hard feelings. Til next time.

I just wanted to give you all a heads up.  Starting at 7:00PM EST on Saturday March 19, I will be live blogging all of the MMA happenings.  Check back here for all the updated news from both UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones and Bellator 37.  Make sure you leave your thoughts in the comment section or email with thoughts.

So, as I read The Two Towers, I will be live-blogging jokes, thoughts, and the like on What the Fidd as they occur to me. Ideally, I’ll notify you guys far enough in advance of each live-blog session that people can be engaging with me while I’m reading, trading comments back and forth. Needless to say, this is going to be slow going. Given how long it took me to do the first two chapters, I’m only going to do this a chapter at a time, which  means this may continue for a while, depending on the rest of my schedule (not every day is the Snowpocalypse, after all).

I hope you’ll join me in this completely silly venture and continue to support my egregiously incorrect belief that I am hilarious.

Covered in this post: Book 3, Chapters 1 and 2

Why on earth am I doing this?

5:11pm: The Two Towers live-blog session underway. All blogging/commentary will be made as comments in response to this post.