The U.S. women’s soccer team never looked ready to win another gold medal.
It finally caught up with the world’s top-ranked team Monday in Kashima, Japan, against North American rival Canada.
The Canadians picked an opportune time to end a 20-year winless streak against the United States, scoring an uneven 1-0 victory in an Olympic semifinal off a penalty kick.
Canada scored in the 74th minute when Jessie Fleming converted the penalty after Menlo Park defender Tierna Davidson tripped up Deanne Rose at the edge of the box.
Adrianna Franch, in for the injured Alyssa Naeher, guessed correctly on the PK but Fleming struck it high and hard out of reach.
Canada will play for the gold medal on Thursday (7 p.m. PDT) against the winner of Australia and Sweden. Canada is the two-time bronze medalist.
The United States, which for the second consecutive Olympics failed to reach the final, will play for the bronze medal against the loser of the other semifinal. The game is scheduled for 1 a.m. (PDT) Thursday in Kashima.
The United States suffered a blow in the 20th minute when the starting goalkeeper Naeher left the game after falling awkwardly when coming out to track Fleming’s serve on the right flank. Naeher appeared to injure her right leg. After trying to continue Naeher signaled she couldn’t go on.
The Americans started the tournament with a 3-0 defeat to Sweden and never found its rhythm other than against New Zealand in group play.
The United States needed a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands to reach the final four. Naeher had two blocks in the shootout and also blocked a penalty during the game.
U.S. coach Vlatko Andonvski went to his firepower in the 60th minute when sending on Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe. The United States finally got its first shot on goal in the 65th minute as the new group began peppering Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe with shot after shot.
The United States outshot Canada 13-3 but it came down to the one untimely tackle and the Canadian penalty.
The North Americans have had a dramatic backstory heading into their 62nd meeting dating to 1986. Although the U.S. women held a 51-3-7 advantage, the teams have been close in the past 15 games since 2011.
Until Monday, no game was bigger than the last time they faced off in the Olympics in 2012. The United States won the semifinal at the London Games in extra time when former Cal star Alex Morgan headed in a last-minute goal.
The Americans advanced to the final 4-3 as Canadian great Christine Sinclair scored three goals.
Canadians were incensed that the game even went to extra time, thanks to a late penalty kick from Abby Wambach.
With Canada ahead 302, Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen awarded the United States a free kick when goalkeeper Erin McLeod was ruled to have held the ball for more than six seconds to take time off the clock. The call led to a handball in the penalty area on the ensuing kick. Wambach converted to send the game into extra time.
“We feel like we didn’t lose, we feel like it was taken from us,” Sinclair said.
Not on Monday night when the Canadians played it just right.
Be the first to comment