Finally, an explanation for the U.S. team's offensive struggles at the women's World Cup: It's the artificial turf.
In the team's opening game, a 3-1 win over Australia, Abby Wambach mishit two headers that went wide. And in Friday's scoreless tie with Sweden, Wambach's diving header off the turf was deflected over the crossbar by goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl.
"I score if we're on grass," Wambach said after the U.S. relocated from Winnipeg to Vancouver for Tuesday's group-play final with Nigeria. "The ball, as it comes off my head against Sweden, hits a dry turf and bounces higher.