After Hope Solo and the rest of the American squad dazzled viewers with their last minute heroics in Sunday’s quarterfinal match against Brazil, the team continued its never-say-die efforts in a 3-1 victory over France in the semifinals. The score, though, doesn’t tell the whole story. The Americans came out of the gate in Wednesday’s match with guns blazing, riding off the adrenaline in their systems from their seemingly impossible quarterfinal win. The US struck early — in the ninth minute — with a goal from Lauren Cheney.
After Cheney’s goal, though, the French began to dominate, especially in the mid-field. When France’s Sonia Bompastor put the ball in the back of the net in the 55th minute, it seemed the U.S. had entirely lost the momentum it carried in the beginning of the match. But after her late goal in the US’s quarterfinal match against Brazil — the latest goal in World Cup history — Abby Wambach knew not to give up. In the 79th minute, she scored the eventual game-winner in the same fashion as she scored the equalizer against Brazil — off of her head. Substitute Alex Morgan netted an insurance goal later in the second half and the Americans went on to win the match.
This finals appearance marks the first time since 1999 that the American women will play for the World Cup Championship. There, the US will meet Japan, who reached the finals for the first time in history. Japan defeated Sweden 3-1 in its semifinal match.
