Carli Lloyd’s second half penalty sealed the U.S. win against Colombia on Monday.
By Ivan Yeo
The U.S. Women’s National team did just enough on Monday evening.
Again, the U.S. offense struggled to find a rhythym on offense in its Round of 16 match against Colombia, and its struggles even creeped up to the penalty spot. However, when 90 minutes were played in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, The U.S. still found a way to come out the winner. Alex Morgan’s early second half goal combined with Carli Lloyd’s penalty later in the half allowed the U.S. to advance to the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win.
The win sets up a showdown in Ottawa against China, the first time these two countries will meet in a World Cup since that historic July day in 1999, where the U.S. defeated China in penalties to win that year’s World Cup in front of 90,000 plus at the Rose Bowl. The U.S. however will do so without midfielders Lauren Holliday and Megan Rapinoe, both of whom picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament in Monday’s game.
The U.S. thought it had a goal just minutes into the match. Tobin Heath struck a ball inside the penalty area right at goal, keeper Catalina Perez denied the shot, but couldn’t hold on, Abby Wambach came in and fired the rebound shot into the back net. The goal however was waived off, as Wambach was judged to be offside when Heath took her shot. Wambach had another chance in the 14th minute, as Morgan headed a ball to Wambach, who struck a one-timer outside of the penalty area, but Perez denied the shot.
The U.S. for sure thought they would find the back net two minutes into the second half. The madness began in the 47th minute, as Rapinoe played a ball forward, Morgan had beaten her marker, Angela Clavijo, and thus freed herself to chase down the ball. Perez came off her line to get the ball, made a sliding challenge, but ended up clipping Morgan at her left leg just inside the penalty area.
The play ended up being a double whammy for Colombia, as the referee not only whistled for the penalty spot, but ended Perez’s night with a red card, making an already dire situation even dire for Colombia, as its starting keeper, Sandra Sepulveda had already been suspended for the U.S. game for a red card in a similar situation in its last game against England. Stefany Castano replaced Perez in goal, but he U.S however did not make Colombia pay the ultimate price, as Wambach sent her penalty wide left.
The U.S. however finally achieved the breakthrough in the 53rd minute. Carli Lloyd played a through ball to Morgan, who was kept onside by the Colombian center backs. Morgan struck a one-timer with her right foot off Castano and the ball crossed the goal into the upper net to finally get the U.S. on the board.
The U.S got a chance to add to its lead in the 65th minute. Meghan Klingenberg played Rapinoe into the penalty area, Rapinoe was taken down by Clavijo inside the penalty area and the U.S. was awarded another penalty. This time, Lloyd stepped in to take the penalty and she succeeded, shooting the penalty at the right side into the back net while Castano went left.
