U.S. Women Battle Past Brazil in World Cup Classic

Fighting Through Adversity

It will go down as one of the greatest World Cup matches in history, both men’s and women’s. Number 1 in the world United States vs. the 3rd ranked Brazilian squad with goal scoring machine Marta. The United States went up 1-0 on a Brazilian own goal less than two minutes into the game. The game went without another goal until U.S. defenseman Rachel Buehler was called for a foul in the box on Marta, given a red card, and sent off. Here is when things got messy for the head referee and the U.S. team. The penalty called was certainly not clear cut. Although the red card had to have been shown if the foul was given, considering Marta had a clear path to the goal, the foul could just
as easily not have been called given that it looked as though Buehler and Marta’s feet both met the ball at the same time with Marta going to the ground only because she was in the air and off balance. Brazil’s Cristiane stepped up to take the penalty and the shot was remarkably blocked by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo. But the PK was called back as the ref whistled encroachment on either Hope Solo for jumping off her line or one of the defenders for crossing the 18 yard line (either way you look at it, it was an extremely harsh call as people have gotten away with a whole lot more). Marta stepped in to take the second attempt and the ball went into the back of the net, tying the game at 1-1.

The game went into extra time and two minutes in, Marta scored a flick goal with her back to the net from a near impossible angle that hit the far post and bounced in. The goal counted but upon further review, the Brazilian player who crossed the ball had received the pass in an offsides position, which went uncalled. Another Brazilian goal with the extra help from the referees. Although the United States seemed to be getting more offensive opportunities with 10 woman than they had with 11, Marta’s second goal was deflating and it seemed like all was lost for the top seeded U.S. team.

Suddenly, in the 122rd minute (two minutes into the stoppage time of the second half of extra time) substitute Megan Rapinoe was sent the ball down the left side of the field and then put a  beautiful cross into the box. Both the Brazilian goalie and a defender went up to clear the ball but both missed and Abby Wambach was left with the header that sent the ball into the back of the net, scoring the latest goal in Women’s World Cup history.

The game was sent into a penalty kick shootout where the U.S. prevailed 5-3 in PKs and advanced to the semifinals to face France.

Riding Solo

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, continuing her magnificent career for the U.S., was nothing short of spectacular during this match and deserved, more than anyone, to get the win. Her blocked PK should have never been called back, but she did not let that get the best of her. Brazil had six corner kicks in the match and because of Marta’s talent, she kept placing them perfectly at the back post. Yet none went into the goal as Solo kept doing the only thing she could do to stop them: Running backwards and punching the ball over her head in order to prevent Brazilian attackers from getting a clean look at the crosses.

In addition, she kept out most shots made by the dangerous Brazilians attackers by leaping through the air and grabbing or punching them out away from the goal. Solo showed throughout the game that with a magnificent goalkeeper in between the posts, no team is ever out of a game.

In the PK shootout she managed to save the PK that ended up deciding the game with a diving, one handed punch out. The U.S. came out on top even though Solo’s Brazilian counterpart, Andreia, kept blatantly jumping off her line before the U.S. PKs were taken, which is assumably what Solo was called for earlier in the game. The ruling is that a goalie can move side to side whenever she wants, but must wait until the PK is taken before he or she leaves the line. Every U.S. penalty kick taken, Andreia jumped out well off her line, almost to the six yard line, before the PK was taken. Luckily on the first PK she was called for it as the kick was saved but retaken and then on the remaining it did not make a difference because the ball went by her anyway and into the goal.

Coming (Wam)bach

The veteran striker had a disappointing start to the World Cup, failing to score in the first two games of the tournament though she had many opportunities. However her game tying goal late in this game will go down in history. The goal was made possible after Brazilian defender Erika, was walking around after a free kick was cleared out of bounds and then suddenly, as if she were shot, fell to the ground. She laid there faking an injury and trying to milk the clock late in the game. When she was finally strapped to the stretcher and carried off she immediately unstrapped herself and ran to midfield to check back into the game. Her “injury” had disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. If it were not for this time waste then not enough added time would have been incorporated into stoppage time and the game would have ended sooner. But payback is a cold, callous beast.

Wambach’s goal will be remembered in U.S. World Cup history with that of Landon Donovan’s in the Men’s 2010 World Cup in stoppage time in the final game of the group stages, sending the team into the knock out round. If somehow you do not remember, you can re-live it here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVU_2TM4o3I and then compare it to Wombach’s goal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOAJn8h6VAI (the greatness of both goals were increased by the remarkable commentary of the great Ian Darke).

And they say soccer is a boring sport...