MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany � Never a team to do anything easy, the amazingly resilient U.S. women's soccer team, outplayed by underdog France most of the match, came up with a couple of flashes of brilliance just at the right time.
By Martin Meissner, AP
Forward Abby Wambach celebrates her second-half goal that helped the USA regain the lead against France in the semifinals.
By Martin Meissner, AP
Forward Abby Wambach celebrates her second-half goal that helped the USA regain the lead against France in the semifinals.
Veteran star Abby Wambach scored on a beautiful corner kick by rising star Lauren Cheney at the 79th minute. Young phenom Alex Morgan scored on a pretty chip shot off a masterful touch by the creative Megan Rapinoe in the 82nd minute.
Just like that, the Americans had won a World Cup semifinal 3-1 Wednesday and are headed to Frankfurt to play in the final on Sunday.
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It will be the first time for the U.S. women to play in the final since the legendary 1999 American team won the World Cup before a home crowd of 90,185.
Wambach, 31, has said repeatedly her long, glorious career ? she scored her 121st career goal in international play Wednesday ? will be incomplete without a World Cup title.
"If you want to go down in soccer history," she said, "you have to win the World Cup."
The Americans can consider themselves somewhat lucky they won't be playing in the third-place game, as France dominated with its elegant attack most of the match.
"They have a fantastic way of attacking," Wambach said. "It's an exciting game."
The Americans, as they had in their victory Sunday against Brazil in the quarterfinals, scored early, with Cheney deflecting in a cross from Heather O'Reilly in the ninth minute.
France got an equalizer in the 55th minute on a goal from Sonia Bompastor, then continued to press the issue. The French would end up leading the U.S. 25-11 in total shots, 8-5 in shots on goal and 10-5 on corner kicks.
But once again, persistence and fitness paid off for the Americans ? plus, some impressive adjustments by the U.S. coaching staff.
U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who gave credit to her entire staff afterward, subbed in Megan Rapinoe at left midfielder in the 65th minute and moved Cheney from that position to central midfield, replacing Carli Lloyd, who had an off game.
Sundhage also changed the U.S. formation from the usual 4-4-2 to 4-5-1, dropping Wambach into the midfield to try to slow down the French attack.
Bingo. The U.S. women began to hold their own in the midfield. The momentum shifted. And eventually the Americans scored, then scored again.
Now they are 90 minutes (or more) away from a World Cup title.
"If you're a footballer," Rapinoe said, "this is your dream."
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