The USA have booked their precious tickets for the final of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and they’ve done it in style. Colombia, North Korea, Brazil and more recently France all fell against the mesmerizing authority of Pia Sundhage’s powerful women—led by veteran Abby Wambach, safe pair of hands Hope Solo and super influential sub Rapinoe.
Why not go down the past few weeks to see how the United States made it from Group C to the Women’s World Cup final at the Frankfurt’s Commerzbank-Arena on July 17, 2011?
Match-day 1—How the United States set the tone
It’s important to kick-off a project on a good tone and that’s exactly what the USA did on June 28 when they went head to head with Asian rivals North Korea. Patience was key to the Americans’ success as the first period of the game ended goalless.
However, the final score line was something else—not that emphatic, though, but vital for the moral factor. Goals from Cheney and Buehler in the 54th and 76th minute respectively played the trick for the USA. What a disgust for the North Koreans who miserably got nothing despite providing a lot of efforts during the 90 minutes!
Match-day 2—Fantastic goals “born in the USA”
Many people might remember the United States’ trouncing of Colombia for Rapinoe’s sick celebration. The explosive midfielder took a microphone on the sideline, went towards the crowd and chanted Bruce Springsteen’s popular “Born in the USA” line. A formidable celebration for a formidable goal. Rapinoe’s strike was the USA’s second goal in a match that ended 3-0.
Of course, possibilities were aplenty to win by a 6-0 or 8-0 margin. Either way, the Americans had done enough to win quarter-finals tickets. The USA vs Colombia match page gives you the opportunity to re-live the goals through video highlights. Click on the link below:
Match-day 3—Something’s not right here
Well, the USA are not unbeaten at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Swedish coach Pia Sundhage couldn’t get the better of Sweden’s football team. Of course, the Sweden vs USA match was nothing like a do-or-die battle but it was still very important in terms of the table’s top spot.
Sweden, who didn’t want to face Brazil in the quarter-finals, were also confident of getting a result against giants USA. Dahlkvist’s 16th minute penalty offered a great boost of energy for the Europeans before Fischer’s deflected free-kick put the Americans under total pressure. What went wrong with the USA’s defense, in fact?
Wambach then thought the revolution was on for the USA when she converted a 67th minute header into a goal. Actually, it proved to be a consolation only. In the end, the fact that the USA didn’t qualify from Group C as its leaders could sound incredible but still very true…
Watch the 3-goal thriller on the Sweden vs USA match page for your own pleasure.
The quarter-finals—When impossible means nothing
Now Brazil vs USA could be THE match of the decade and the best ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match we’ve seen thus far—perhaps not in terms of the two teams’ performances, but in terms of how things unfolded in general.
First, the Americans had the chance to laugh out loud when Brazilian defender Daiane scored an own goal. This happened as early as after 2 minutes of play.
Terrible start for Brazil’s Canarinhas, lucky beginnings for the USA. But when you’re up against 5-time World Player of the Year Marta besides questionable officiating decisions, you cannot think of having things that easy, can you?
Speaking of Marta, she was brought down in the box as guilty Rachel Buehler eventually got sent off. A penalty was given to Brazil which Marta missed. Great effort from top goalie Hope Solo, but Australian referee Jacqui Melksham cancelled Solo’s achievement by ordering to take the spot kick a second time.
According to the official, USA’s shot stopper had moved away from her line before Marta produced her strike. Well, cameras don’t lie. Hope Solo had never done what she was accused off. At the second attempt, Marta found the net and Brazil were back to 1-1.
Extra-time was needed to separate the winners from the losers. The USA went 2-1 down after a controversial attack from the Brazilians resulted in another goal for Marta. However, Wambach’s miraculous equalizer with only seconds remaining forced the match to go into a penalty shootout. Daiane again was to blame as her shot was formidably saved. Krieger ensured victory for the United States with the winning penalty kick.
The Semi-finals—Complete expertise
France vs USA was a game worth watching. The strength of the French increased the tempo of the game, but the expertise of the Americans settled the score line at the disappointment of Les Bleues.
It was important for Cheney to score from the USA’s first genuine attack. From there, the French woke up and played better until the end of the first half.
However, even Bompastor’s incredible equalizer 10 minutes into the second period wasn’t enough to push France to a victory.
In fact, be careful when you play against Wambach. The veteran has a powerful forehead that destroys oppositions. In the semi-final match against France, Abby Wambach once again assumed her duties by putting the USA 2-1 up before Morgan rounded up the win with a goal in the 82nd minute of the match.
3-1 USA. Frankfurt, here come the Americans!
France 1-3 USA Semi-final match
