July 10, 2011
Coach Walsh's World Cup PhotoBlog | Watch Match Replay
DRESDEN, Germany - Penn State women's soccer alumna Ali Krieger put away the fifth spot kick for the United States to send the Americans into the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals on Sunday evening. The U.S. defeated Brazil, 5-3, in a penalty kick shootout after a 2-2 draw where Abby Wambach scored a 122nd minute goal for the Stars and Stripes.
In a fairy-tale script, the United States faced long odds of reaching the semifinals after conceding a 2-1 deficit to Brazil in the early moments of extra time along with being a player down. Meghan Rapinoe's cross found Wambach's head and the U.S. veteran put the shot away to send Rudolf-Harbig Stadium into delirium. The marker in the 122nd minute was the latest scored in FIFA Women's World Cup history.
In the shootout, consecutive made penalties by Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Wambach, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo made an important save on Brazil's Daiane to give the U.S. a 3-2 lead after three kicks. Rapinoe converted the next shot for a 4-2 lead before Francielle brought Brazil within one, setting up the kick by Krieger, which was successfully slotted into the lower left corner to cap the fantastic comeback.
Krieger's clincher was described by ESPN's lead play-by-play commentator Ian Darke as "breaking the U.S. out of jail." Darke added more praise, dubbing the 2007 Penn State graduate as "the next Brandi Chastain," a reference to the winning penalty kick for the United States in 1999.
The U.S. took an early 1-0 lead after 70 seconds when Brazil knocked in a cross by Boxx and the Americans took control of much of the game. In the 65th minute, Rachel Beuhler was whistled for a foul on five-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year, Marta, earning a controversial red card and a penalty kick for Brazil. Solo saved the ensuing penalty by Christiane, but the decision was overturned as an American player encroached on the penalty area during the shot. Marta converted the next shot to knot the game at one.
The match eventually went to extra time and another close decision by the officials, this time on a potential offside call, allowed Marta to score her second goal of the game in the 92nd minute off a cross from the left flank. Seemingly running out of time, the Americans sent every player forward, leading to the long cross by Rapinoe and Wambach's thrilling goal.
Krieger is not the only one with Penn State ties on the U.S. squad as head coach Erica Walsh is serving as an assistant coach for the Red, White and Blue. Walsh was on U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage's staff in 2008 when the Americans won gold at the Beijing Olympics.
Krieger, Walsh and the rest of the United States team takes on France in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday with the game being televised live on ESPN. First kick from Borussia-Park Monchengladbach Stadion at Noon ET.
--NITTANY LIONS--