Poetic Justice. After a grueling and dramatic race against Brazil, referees, and time, the USA Women’s National Team made unforgettable history. If you missed the match and your a sports fan in even the smallest measure, then you missed the essence of sport. You better watch the replay, for this will forever be one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the game. That’s right, I said it. THE GAME! Not just women’s soccer but the HISTORY of FOOTBALL. The beauty of it? This was just the World Cup quarterfinals.
The story went like this: After the US notched an early goal a mere 2 minutes in off of Shannon Boxx’s cross that was misjudged and deflected as an own goal by Daiane, the game steadily intensified. The intensity heightened when defender, Rachel Buehler battled Brazilian Beloved, Marta inside the 18 where both were pulled down with what was aggressive physical play. The Australian referee, Jacqui Melksham, deemed it too physical and issued a straight red to Buehler. Hmm… very questionable. Check out the pic and the video. I say no foul.
Marta & Buehler Challenge: Red Card?! Really?
But wait! It gets even more dramatic. Cristiane steps up to take the spot kick. Hope Solo, makes a miraculous save to deny the equalizer. But wait! Melsham is flagged down by her assistant and together they decided to revoke the save due to what looks like “encroachment” and issued a retake. An extremely controversial call. This time Marta steps up to take the penalty and buries it. It’s a tie game 65 minutes in. Despite playing a man down, the US actually performed better with only 10 women on the pitch. Not surprising considering we are known for our extreme fitness and endurance. Slowly you could see Brazil begin to tire but that didn’t detract from their determination. The 1-1 draw carried into 30 minutes of overtime.
A quick start for Brazil put the US scrambling to even the tally when Maurine crossed the ball from the left flank to Marta who found a small pocket beating Boxx and flicked it far post into the net. Another debatable offsides mis-call by the referees permitted this goal. Still down a player, USA grit their teeth and took it to the yellow shirts. In the highest drama match of the Cup, Brazil began to fein injury, run the clock down, pull out the cheap tricks to stall the game. It was frustrating and even ugly. What was beautiful was the heart and determination that the USA pulled out from deep within each other to find a way to win.
The next climax hit in the final two minutes of extra time in overtime when Megan Rapinoe placed an ambitious, David Beckhamish, left footed cross to the far post for Abby Wambach’s head. Wambach used her ninja focus to drive the ball into the far post. The score was now even: 2-2. The clock eventually ran down and entered into Penalty Kicks. A time for redemption. A time for Hope Solo. As long as her teammates did their jobs and finish their PKs, all she needed was one save. And one save she earned and deserved. Sweet, poetic justice. I hope you saw the match but either way here are the highlights for you to enjoy and relive:
Although Rapinoe, Christie Rampone, and Wambach deserve honorable mention, no doubt PLAYER OF THE MATCH is: 
HOPE SOLO
This is Why We are #1: HEART. All the way to the top ladies!
XO Your Proud USA Futbolita
P.S. “Notably, the result in the penalty shootout came on the 12th anniversary of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against China that also saw the U.S. win a penalty shootout. On that day in the Rose Bowl the U.S. also converted all five penalties with the U.S. goalkeeper Briana Scurry saving China’s third attempt.” (ussoccer.com)
(PHOTOS: Courtesy of Zimbio)
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