No fan of soccer, but that midfield kick?

[Napoléon]

As far as the goal in question: well...it was amazing at the time. Now, maybe, maybe not. It could have been a rather random decision to try for that goal. If so, that's pretty irresponsible soccer. However, part of me thinks Carli saw a split second opportunity for reasons most of us won't understand (but the USWNT might).  

I doubt it was random to be fair. It's just that a lot of players, even average ones will occasionally look up and see where the keeper is when they pick the ball up around the halfway line. It's just pretty standard awareness to look up. If you spot the keeper off the line, you can always be cheeky and have a go. Thing is, this shit happens all the time, on parks and football pitches all across the world, by amateur footballers. What she did wasn't overly skillful. Like I said, it was just a punt. To an american handegg fan that might be great but to people who know how to actually kick a ball it's not that impressive. I know it seems amazing to Brian but pretty much every kid in England can kick a ball 50 yards and get it straight 8 or 9 times out of 10. Same thing happened here, she saw the keeper off her line, and booted it. Nothing more or less than that. Good awareness to be sure, but nothing special. Charlie Adam does this virtually every week in the Prem.

[Cato]

If so, that's pretty irresponsible soccer. However, part of me thinks Carli saw a split second opportunity for reasons most of us won't understand (but the USWNT might).  

Reasons we won't understand? Like Nap said, it happens all the time at all levels of play. When there's a change of possession and the ball's at your feet, the first thing you do if you have any space at all is look downfield; mostly hoping to find one of yours already streaking for a potential counterattack. If the one in the odd colored uniform is pressed up and there's no viable outlet take a chance, it's expected and not irresponsible. In Lloyd's case the only outlet was the left winger, but she was marked. The keeper got caught out of position.

Brian, if you want to make an analogy to American football this play would be similar to a quarterback dropping back from his own 15 and having a defensive lineman step in and make a one handed pick on an attempted flair pass for a touchdown. What you're missing is that the one handed pick isn't analogous to the kick you're enamored with, it was the sweet flick Lloyd did to evade the streaking defender to create the space she had to look downfield; brilliant awareness.

If you want to see a great kick in a similar situation, check out this volley by Stankovic a few years ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajn5lzhZk6k