MtnBiker
08-01-2021, 10:28 AM
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Megan Rapinoe converted the deciding penalty in a shootout and the United States advanced to the semifinals of the women's Olympic soccer tournament 4-2 following a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Friday.United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Vivianne Miedema's opening attempt in the shootout and then saved a shot from Aniek Nouwen before Rapinoe put her penalty away.
Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos from the game
After Rapinoe scored, she turned to her teammates, folded her arms and grinned in triumph.
Miedema scored a pair of goals in regulation time for the Netherlands, giving her 10 goals for the tournament — an Olympic record.
Miedema put the Netherlands ahead in the 18th minute but the Americans equalized when Sam Mewis headed in a goal off a feed from Lynn Williams in the 28th. Williams then gave the Americans the lead in the 31st.
Miedema, who was playing in her 100th game for the Netherlands, made it 2-2 in the 54th.
The United States will next face Canada in Kashima on Monday. The Canadians advanced to the semifinals 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw with Brazil in Rifu.
The Americans were playing in a shootout for the fifth time in a major tournament. The last time was at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when the U.S. was bounced by Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Friday's game at the International Stadium brought together the two teams that played in the World Cup final two years ago in France. The U.S. women won that 2-0 and afterward the crowd chanted "Equal Pay!" in support of the team's legal fight for equity with the men's national team.
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski tinkered with his lineup for Friday's match, with Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Rose Lavelle on the bench at the start.
The grueling game was the latest hurdle in what has been a particularly uncharacteristic tournament for the United States. The normally stalwart Americans lost to Sweden 3-0 in its opener before beating New Zealand 6-1. They then advanced to the knockout round following a 0-0 draw with Australia.
The United States hadn't been shutout since 2017.
So the US women’s soccer team has had some struggles in this years Olympic Games, however they are continuing to compete and rise to the challenges. Megan Rapinoe has been a key player and made important shots in the right moment. So hopefully they will continue to perform as champions and win a medal, perhaps the Gold that they were favored to win going into the Olympics. Megan, being an advocate of equality, should certainly take the opportunity as a medal winner to denounce the medal for the US Women’s team and demand medals for all players of all the teams. They could celebrate their Olympic competition equally and receive a new medal perhaps made of Cubic Zirconia.
Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos from the game
After Rapinoe scored, she turned to her teammates, folded her arms and grinned in triumph.
Miedema scored a pair of goals in regulation time for the Netherlands, giving her 10 goals for the tournament — an Olympic record.
Miedema put the Netherlands ahead in the 18th minute but the Americans equalized when Sam Mewis headed in a goal off a feed from Lynn Williams in the 28th. Williams then gave the Americans the lead in the 31st.
Miedema, who was playing in her 100th game for the Netherlands, made it 2-2 in the 54th.
The United States will next face Canada in Kashima on Monday. The Canadians advanced to the semifinals 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw with Brazil in Rifu.
The Americans were playing in a shootout for the fifth time in a major tournament. The last time was at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when the U.S. was bounced by Sweden in the quarterfinals.
Friday's game at the International Stadium brought together the two teams that played in the World Cup final two years ago in France. The U.S. women won that 2-0 and afterward the crowd chanted "Equal Pay!" in support of the team's legal fight for equity with the men's national team.
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski tinkered with his lineup for Friday's match, with Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Christen Press and Rose Lavelle on the bench at the start.
The grueling game was the latest hurdle in what has been a particularly uncharacteristic tournament for the United States. The normally stalwart Americans lost to Sweden 3-0 in its opener before beating New Zealand 6-1. They then advanced to the knockout round following a 0-0 draw with Australia.
The United States hadn't been shutout since 2017.
So the US women’s soccer team has had some struggles in this years Olympic Games, however they are continuing to compete and rise to the challenges. Megan Rapinoe has been a key player and made important shots in the right moment. So hopefully they will continue to perform as champions and win a medal, perhaps the Gold that they were favored to win going into the Olympics. Megan, being an advocate of equality, should certainly take the opportunity as a medal winner to denounce the medal for the US Women’s team and demand medals for all players of all the teams. They could celebrate their Olympic competition equally and receive a new medal perhaps made of Cubic Zirconia.