Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Wambach’s goal propels the U.S. into semifinals

FOXBORO, Mass. -- It became evident early Wednesday night that United States vs. Norway would be a familiar game of muscle and determination, of ferocious tackling and rough jostling for balls in the air, of ceaseless pressure and hard running, a match defined by effort, not elegance.

The two most dominant teams in women's soccer have always played this way, both assured that one would be able to impose its will upon the other, if only by the slightest of margins. One moment of advantage might provide victory, one letdown could be calamitous.

In the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup, the United States did the strong-arming this time, prevailing, 1-0, on a header by Abby Wambach in the 24th minute before 25,103 at Gillette Stadium. The goal came off a free kick from Cat Reddick as the United States continued its mastery on set pieces, which have accounted for 10 of its 12 goals in this tournament.

Wambach, who plays forward with a brawny fearlessness at 6 feet and 160 pounds, has now scored three goals in four games to lead the United States. She plays with a directness that Norway's players might envy, and in this game she demonstrated a bristly dominance on both ends of the field.

The United States advanced to the semifinals on Sunday in Portland, Ore., to play the winner of today's match between Germany and Russia. Goalkeeper Briana Scurry has surrendered only one goal in four matches in this tournament. On Wednesday night, the United States prevailed in the 11th 1-0 game played against Norway in 39 matches of this vehement rivalry.

"These are the type of games that play right into my hands, my bag of tricks," said Wambach, who was in danger of not making the national team as late as April, but who made herself indispensable by leading Washington to the Women's United Soccer Association championship. Against Norway, Wambach flicked balls on goal, headed balls away on defense and pressured ceaselessly.

"I play best when I'm physical," Wambach said. "If I don't come off with grass stains and mud, I find myself thinking: 'What did I do? I must have done nothing.' "

She knew that muscle ball would be especially necessary against Norway, the only team to have a winning record (18-17-2) against the United States. Even years later, the United States players feel the sting of a 1-0 defeat in the semifinals of the 1995 Women's World Cup, and a 3-2 defeat in overtime in the gold medal game of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

To counter Norway's strength in the air, and to pressure and disrupt its attempt to play long balls, the United States returned to the 4-3-3 formation used against Sweden in its World Cup opener. Mia Hamm was joined up front by Wambach, while the 5-11 Cindy Parlow played as a withdrawn forward, clogging the middle on defense and spraying the ball from side to side when the United States went on attack.

Norway rarely threatened, and managed its only shot on goal in the 77th minute. With the playmaker Hege Riise limited to six minutes as she recovers from knee surgery, Norway struggled to find its forwards, Dagny Mellgren and Marianne Pettersen. They were smothered by the American defenders -- Reddick, Christie Pearce, Joy Fawcett and Kate Sobrero -- who did not allow Norway's players to run past them a single time.

Inexorably, the game changed in favor of the United States, and in the 24th minute the Americans found the net. Parlow was fouled from behind by defender Ane Stangeland, and the United States was awarded a free kick from near midfield. Norway realized the urgency of obstructing the Americans' set pieces, but it failed at this critical moment.

Norway made a substitution, and seemed to be caught off guard when Reddick smartly stepped forward and drove the free kick from 40 yards out. Wambach outleaped Marit Fiane Christensen and headed the ball off the left hand of goalkeeper Bente Nordby, providing the game's lone goal.

"Wambach is very strong in the air," Age Steen, Norway's coach, said. "We tried to take her out of the box, like ice hockey, but she's very strong. It is difficult to stop her."

A chance for a second United States goal was squandered in the 68th minute after Nordby drew a yellow card for fouling Wambach in the penalty area. Hamm took the penalty kick, only to have it blocked. But Wambach kept slam-dancing with Norway's players all over the field, holding her ground, allowing her team to hold its slight lead.

"Abby was dangerous in the air all day long," coach April Heinrichs said. "You could also see her willpower and fighting presence and competitiveness. I said to her after the game, that was the best game of her life."

The Swedes, who followed a loss in the opener to the United States with two wins to move into the quarterfinals, went ahead on Malin Andersson's brilliant free kick in the 53rd minute. Moments before, Brazil's Juliana received a yellow card for arguing the awarding of the free kick from 28 yards.

Andersson floated the ball just above the reach of goalkeeper Andreia.

The game got rough later on as Brazil committed several fouls trying to get the ball. Sweden bunkered in to protect its lead and Brazil's creative forwards rarely found any room to operate.

In stoppage time, though, Katia broke free near the Swedish net and was clipped from behind by Sara Call. But no foul was called.

Sweden controlled much of the play as Brazil looked tentative, particularly on attack. The Swedes, ranked fifth in the world, broke through in the 23rd minute on a perfect cross from Malin Mostroem that found Victoria Svensson between two defenders. From short range, Svensson's header eluded Andreia.

Brazil, which upended Norway in the first round to win Group B, lacked continuity almost until the break. But in the 43rd minute, Marta sneaked through on the left side and was upended in the penalty area by keeper Sofia Lundgren, seeing her first action of the tournament.

Marta placed a left-footed penalty kick under Lundgren to tie it in the 44th.

Brazil lost defender Simone in the 54th after Andreia punched out a high ball and hit Simone with her forearm. Cristiane came on for Simone and, two minutes later, made two nice moves to get free, only to shoot wide.

Sweden last got this far in the first World Cup in 1991.

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