The through ball found the foot of a Brazilian forward and he cut left past a Swiss defender. Fans oohed as he dribbled past another defender and homed in on the goal. The Swiss coach waved frantically at the goalie to attack the ball. When the goalie did, the Brazilian’s shot thudded against his chest, rebounded out to about midfield, trickled out of bounds and rolled until it wedged under the bumper of a Nissan Sentra in the parking lot.
Jogs became plods on a warm summer night at Jelleff Recreation Center in northwest Washington. Players who served as reminders that soccer is for more than ultra-conditioned athletes took much-needed breathers.