Freedom Kicks: USA, Women's World Cup, D.C. United, and US Open Cup links for Wednesday July 1, 2015

Hope you're reading this from a non-flooded residence! As there are always games at all times now, there were two games last night. Let's start with the one that went well, shall we?

Here's our match diary, which contains more German than I know and brings up ninja kicks. Over at SB Nation's main soccer section, Kevin McCauley points out that the USWNT deserved their win even if it required a couple shots of luck. Meanwhile, Landon Donovan maybe subtweeted Jurgen Klinsmann but definitely had his chops busted by Alexi Lalas for doing so. In case you didn't see it on Monday, many US players offered up their impressions of Abby Wambach (though Tobin Heath instead went with the most Tobin Heath option that does not include leaving an opponent kicking at air on the dribble).

And now the bad news: D.C. United is out of the Open Cup after conceding two goals to a ten-man Philadelphia Union side to lose 2-1. Here's our report on the game, which was interrupted by a 48 minute weather delay. Philly is justifiably thrilled with the heart they showed in outplaying a team with a man advantage, as MLSsoccer points out. At United's site, the report is significantly more terse. To top things off, this is what United found when they returned to RFK during last night's furious thunderstorms:

When you get back to RFK to finish work and it's pouring out.... pic.twitter.com/TIhVQ3sd1r

— T.J. Scholl (@tjscholl16) July 1, 2015

In other USOC action, Orlando City calmly dispatched of Columbus, who for the second straight year tried a back three in Cup play. The Crew at least got key midfielder Wil Trapp back from a long layoff due to a concussion. Chicago fans got a rare treat as they beat the USL's Charlotte Independence 3-1 while watching Mike Magee play 90 minutes and the return of Patrick Nyarko. Finally, after a nearly 3 hour delay due to an utterly soaked field, the Houston Dynamo more or less ended Colorado's season by beating them 1-0 in Space City via a goal from teenage newcomer Mauro Manotas. Before the game, the staff of the Burgundy Wave is discussing whether Pablo Mastroeni needs to be fired.

And now, confession time: I totally forgot to write this after steering the site on a day with two big games, so I read absolutely nothing yesterday that was not soccer related. I don't really have any other links to offer you, so instead I'll leave with a non sequitur in the form of this Kids in the Hall skit: