Sunday, July 10, 2011

A Moment of True Sport Legend

Ok, I know. Most of you probably don't care a rat's ass about women's soccer. Sometimes, however, you just get a look at history.

We saw that (those of us who can remember) when the 1980 American Olympic hockey team captured unexpected gold in Lake Placid, upsetting the Russians in the semi-final game.

It's been twelve years (actually, to the day) since Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Michelle Akers, Brianna Scurry, and all the rest thrilled a sellout crowd in the Rose Bowl bringing America it's last FIFA Women's World Cup title.

I remember watching that match, end to end, as the USA and China battled throughout regular time, and two overtimes scoreless. As happens in FIFA World Cup play, any tie at the end of regulation and two overtimes is determined by one of the more lame means in all of sport: the penalty kick shootout. In this snapshot of history, it is recorded that Bri Scurry saved the third of five Chinese penalty kicks, giving the Americans the chance to win the Cup. Those who watched will recall Brandi Chastain knocking in the clincher on the fifth (and then, parting company with her jersey.)

What I saw today, while "only" a quarter-final match, exceeded the excitement and emotion of that day.

It all started, innocuously enough, with Brazil giving up an "own goal" a minute and seventeen seconds into the match. This sort of thing is frowned upon, particualrly in Latin America, where players who have given up "own goals," occasionally get murdered, literally. (I recall a player from Colombia, I believe it was, who gave one up to the U. S. men's team in a World Cup match. Upon his return home, his car "mysteriously" exploded, with him in it.)

With the U. S. leading 1-0, Brazil gradually ratcheted up the offensive pressure, and, while the Americans gave the ball up a lot in midfield, the Brazilians seemed to be very closely "marked" by the U. S. midfielders and defense. The half ended at U.S. 1 Brazil 0. Now we get to the fun part.

Early in the second half, Brazil's superstar, Marta, (who had spent a large part of the first half flopping and whining at the referee,) made a run on goal and tumbled/was pulled down by U. S. defender Rachel Buehler. The result was a pretty questionable red card on Buehler (also known as "Buehldozer,") and a Brazil penalty kick.

Christiane, another of those one-name Brazilian players, attempted the kick and U. S. keeper Hope Solo saved it. Just as jubilation was breaking out among the Americans, the referee once again stepped in with a yellow card in her hand, claiming that Solo had moved off her line before the kick was struck. The Americans, the German crowd, and the announcers were dumbfounded. Replay after replay showed Solo moved laterally to her left, but not forward off her line. Accordingly, the Brazilians got another try at the penalty kick, and this time Marta, much to the disdain of the crowd, put it away to tie the match.

When the smoke cleared, Brazil was tied 1-1, and the U. S. would have to play the remainder of the match a person shorthanded after Buehler's removal.

From that point, the U. S. team seemed to rally, playing outstanding defense while shorthanded, but also unable to mount an offensive surge to break the tie. Regulation time ended with the match tied 1-1.

Two minutes into the extra time, however, Marta got loose after a pass that was seemingly offside, putting the Brazil side up 2-1 with 28 minutes of extra time remaining. Considering that the U. S. was now down a goal, down a person, this seemed to spell doom for the American side and the match remained 2-1 into injury time.

In the 122nd minute, two minutes into "stoppage time," Megan Rapinoe spotted U. S. veteran Abby Wambach in fronbt of goal and Wambach elevated striking a beautiful header past the Brazilian keeper for the last-minute equalizer. Bedlam ensued.

Once Buehler had been sent off, it seemed that the best the Americans could hope for was to get the game to penalty kicks, and Wambach's last minute heroics had gotten them there.

The first three Americans put the ball solidly into the net, as did Marta and Christiane, setting the stage for the third Brazilian kicker, Daiane, who had allowed the "own goal" in the second minute. Once again, Hope Solo rose to the occasion, getting the critical save against the now-uninsurable Daiane. (Talk about a bad day!) Still, the Americans had to make their last two to close the deal and Rapinoe and Ali Krieger, (who plays professionally in Germany,) deposited theirs in the back of the net to allow the Americans to come back from the brink and move on to Wednesday's semi-final against France.

Solo, with her save, redeems herself for getting bounced from the U. S. side four years ago, when she publicly disagreed with her coach who benched her in favor of Bri Scurry in the semi finals, leading to a 4-0 Brazil win and relegating the U. S. side to the consolation game.

Whether or not this American team can close the deal and clinch their third cup is yet to be determined. But the spirit with which the American side fought, outnumbered and outgunned, to come back and secure the win was epic. And just as was the case with the hockey team in 1980, it gave everyone who watched a moment of American pride.

Even though I've given the ending away, ESPN2 is rebroadcasting the game at midnight tonight and I plan to record it. It will certainly be an instant classic.