Grit, Determination Power U.S Women's Soccer

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
Anybody catch that goal by Abby Wambach???!!!
You know what I mean.
The Women’s World Cup. U.S.A. vs. Brazil played Sunday morning.
Time seemed to stand still as the pass from Megan Rapinoe made its way from the left wing across the goal mouth, past the outstretched hands of Brazil's goalkeeper Andreia to Wambach’s forehead on the far post.
Time was ticking off the clock.
U.S.A. was down to its last 30 seconds in extra time behind Brazil 2-1 in a topsy-turvy game marred by a controversial red card and the subsequent first penalty kick that U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo saved, but Brazil was given a successful second chance on another questionable call.
Rapinoe’s soaring cross had to go in.
It just had to. You could feel the U.S. was going to tie the score.
It was a perfect pass, in the perfect spot, to the right player at the right time and Wambach-known in soccer circles as the Queen of the Midair--made no mistake. (Wambach pictured at top)
It was textbook.
A header just like your coach tells you to do. Attack the ball—which means keep your eyes open--and drive it hard to a corner.
And DID Wambach drive it.
The springs holding the back of the net in place could clearly be heard on ESPN’s broadcast as Wambach’s goal plowed into the net and bounced back out with effect as Team U.S.A. overcame numerous hurdles at the last second to tie the score, send the match into overtime and eventually win on penalty kicks.
Wow Wambach!
Thank you for slamming that baby home.
What a pass by Rapinoe. Sometimes getting an assist is almost as good as getting the goal.
Team U.S.A.’s miraculous win wipes away the controversy surrounding the ref’s questionable red card and ejection of Boston Breakers’ Rachel Buehler—a stalwart on defense at the 64-minute mark.
Forget about the Hope Solo save on the first penalty kick for Buehler’s red card and then having to face another when the officials indicated some kind of encroachment on the save. (Solo pictured second from top)
Forget about Brazil evening the score on the rekick of the penalty shot.
Who cares now.
With everything against them, the U.S. women’s team showed what they were made of: grit and determination.
Never say die--even with 30 seconds left.
They played a man down for nearly 60 minutes—a regulation soccer match is 90 minutes—and they took the play to the Brazilians, who even a man-up mustered little offense, except a stealth attack from superstar Marta’s big toe that put Brazil in the lead 2-1 just 2 minutes into overtime.
Another controversy. The player who passed Marta the ball to go ahead probably should have been called for being offside.
Oh well. Doesn’t matter now.
At the professional level it’s not often a team playing with a man down looks like the one in the driver’s seat, but that’s the way the U.S. played it.
They attacked.
Not only in the overtime, but from the moment Buehler was sent off.
They seemed to get the fact the deck was stacked against them, except in the minds of viewers and fans.
Thousands of German fans who packed the stadium in Dresden, Germany joined in chants of “U.S.A.” and the momentum was in Team U.S.A.’s court.
Down 2-1, the U.S. controlled the ball for much of the overtime and you just knew they were going to score, but when?
Time was REALLY running out. The game should have been over at the 120-minute mark, but 3 minutes of extra time was added for a number of Brazilian stalling tactics, most notably by Erika, who clearly faked an injury to chew up time.
Didn’t matter.
Looks like the Brazilians learned that sometimes doing everything you can to win isn’t a good idea.
Marta—what a great player. She may end up the Don Mattingly of women’s soccer. Sorry girl. You’re still young. At 25, you’ve got a few more World Cups to play. This isn’t your time.
Not sure if it’s this Team U.S.A.’s time. Today will tell.
Today’s game against France (11:30 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, ESPN) will be a tough one.
The French have never made it this far and they might think, just like the U.S., they have destiny on their side.
Don’t think so since the U.S. has beaten the French 11 of 13 matches, but you never know. Never underestimate an opponent. That’s why we play the game.
This American women’s team needed a defining moment and on Sunday they got it.
To draw attention to the women’s World Cup I joked with friends the best thing that could happen in the tournament would be for one of the women on the North Korean roster to defect.
I was wrong.
There is nothing better than a last-second, man-down, all-against-you win capped by a pass and a shot for world-wide headlines and highlight reels.
Go U.S.A.!!!
(Top two photos courtesy of Getty Images. All others courtesy ESPN)