Women’s World Cup, USA Vs. Brazil: Abby Wambach Forces Penalty Kicks, USWNT Wins Shootout

On Sunday, the United States women produced what was arguably the second most high profile win in their history, beating Brazil in dramatic fashion in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Thanks to Megan Rapinoe’s cross, Abby Wambach’s header, Hope Solo’s save and the proficiency of all five penalty takers, the USWNT now has a date with France.

While there’s nothing wrong with celebrating a massive win, it’s important to remember that Sunday’s game was just a quarterfinal, and that the United States are the No. 1 ranked team in the world. With the hosts and arguably the second best team in the world out of the tournament, the U.S. are now the favorites. Their job is far from done, and Sunday’s game produced way more questions than it answered.

The victory was redemption for the entire team but perhaps none more so than goalie Hope Solo.

In 2007, Solo was the United States goalkeeper, at least until she was pulled from the lineup heading into the semifinals against Brazil. The US lost 4-0 and Solo let loose an outburst that made her persona non grata among her teammates and many soccer fans.

Maybe he’s not completely serious. Maybe he is. Who knows, but I think it’s safe to say that he’s caught up in the excitement. Does this mean we might also have a Abby Wambach Bryant someday? How about Megan Rapinoe James or Lauren Cheney Jeter?

It was a stunning game, full of enough twists and turns that it’ll immediately go down as one of the USA’s all-time great sporting moments, and despite the excitement of the penalty shootout Wambach’s goal stands as the quarterfinal’s emotional climax. The difficulty of the situation made it even better - the US were down to ten, had conceded in extra time, and were having to deal with a time-wasting, diving Brazilian squad against whom there appeared to be no hope at all.

Unsurprisingly, Brazil has scored a goal to take the lead on the 10-woman United States in extra time. Also unsurprisingly, the goal was scored by Marta with an absolutely world class finish. And, also unsurprisingly for this game, the goal was not scored by completely legal means. Though Marta deserved her goal, as her finish was fantastic and she did nothing illegal, the referee has once again made a mistake.

The goal was assisted by Brazil’s Maurine, who made an overlapping run to the byline on the left. Unfortunately for her, she was offsides when she was played the ball. Fortunately for her, the officials disagreed and she put in a cross that was brilliantly flicked into the back of the net by Marta.

After a wild and eventful 90 minutes of football that featured a couple of goals and some terrible refereeing going both ways, the United States and Brazil are headed to extra time in their 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal match, tied up at 1-1. If the USWNT are going to advance, they’re going to have to hold on with a disadvantage, as they’re currently playing with 10 women.

Rachel Buehler’s red card is making life tough for the U.S. women, but they’ve actually looked a tiny bit better between the time she got sent off and the whistle for the end of normal time. Pia Sundhage has not replaced her with a substitution, and is instead playing a three woman back line.

At halftime of their 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup, the United States is leading Brazil by a score of 1-0, but it doesn’t necessarily feel like they’re winning the game. Since the own goal that Brazil put in just 90 seconds into the match, it’s been an exciting up and down match with Brazil having more clear cut chances and the better of the play. Thanks to some good luck and some good play from Hope Solo the USWNT is holding onto their lead, but they will need more of the ball - or a quick goal - to keep that lead.

Brazil look most dangerous on the break, where their speed has been tough for the U.S. to deal with. The United States back line - particularly Amy LePeilbet and Rachel Buehler, has been better than their match against Sweden, but not exactly by a wide margin. The U.S. has a very good chance at scoring another goal and winning this game, but it would be surprising to see Brazil go the entire match without scoring a goal.

Thanks to a well deserved upset win over the United States by Sweden, the neutral public has been set up with a fantastic dream quarterfinal matchup in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup between the USA and Brazil. Of course, fans of both the U.S. women and Brazil won’t be particularly happy with how the group stages played out, giving the two pre-tournament implied semifinalists an extremely difficult quarterfinal matchup, but at least they should be treated to some exciting football.

Both Brazil and the United States have the talent to beat any other team in the world, but both have shown serious flaws to begin this competition. Still, despite those flaws, the winner of this match will be the favorite to win the World Cup if the game is very competitive or if there is a definitive winner, thanks to Germany’s surprise elimination.