Congradulations-USA Women's Soccer! On to finals

[jamestkirk]

USA women’s soccer beat odds


Written by Ryan Miller
Wednesday, 13 July 2011 21:01




The qualifying round of the Women’s World Cup came to a dramatic and fantastic end with the United States defying the odds and surmounting one of the most unbelievable comebacks in Women’s World Cup history, and they did it with only 10 players on the pitch.

Viewer numbers all over the U.S. skyrocketed. The number of people tuned in equaled the number of views of the U.S. women’s last World Cup championship victory over China in 1999.

Additionally, the Brazil-U.S. quarterfinal match was played on the exact same date the U.S. defeated China to win its second World Cup final in July 1999. This brought much needed attention and publicity to an unknown tournament that is going on this summer.

The match, which was broadcasted on ESPN, acquired 3,890,000 viewers. This feat placed third on the U.S. Women’s World Cup all-time views list behind the Brazil-U.S semi-final match in 1999, which had an electronic audience of 4,924,000 people, and the Women’s World Cup final between U.S.-China, which attracted an audience of 17,975,000 people.

It gave viewers the drama, excitement and zest that were absent the past few months. It also drew the U.S. in as a nation to watch the remaining matches.

The U.S. women now look ahead to a match against a talented French team.....



U.S. women beat France 3-1, make World Cup final

(CNN) -- The U.S. women's soccer team advanced to the World Cup final by beating France 3-1 Wednesday on a rain-soaked field in Moenchengladbach, Germany.

After the game, Team USA ran onto the field celebrating their hard-won victory over a determined French team that outplayed them everywhere but on the scoreboard.

"I'm exhausted. I need a rest," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said in postgame comments after the match amid pandemonium from her players.

Forgive the women's soccer team if they seem to be partying like it's 1999.

That was the last time they won the World Cup, led by Mia Hamm.

On Wednesday, the heroics belonged to star U.S. forward Abby Wambach, who came through in the clutch for the second straight match.
Soccer fan: 'I feel great'


Against Brazil on Sunday, the United States came from behind to win a thriller after Wambach headed in a cross from teammate Megan Rapinoe to tie the match late in extra time.

SI.com: 3 keys to the match

This time Wambach scored off a corner kick by Lauren Cheney to break a 1-1 tie -- and seemed to break the French team's spirits.

After the game, Team USA goalie Hope Solo said she has confidence her team can win it all this Sunday. "The confidence comes from our preparation and because we know we're damn good," she said.

The second semifinal Wednesday pits Sweden against Japan. The winners will meet for the title on Sunday.

The reigning Olympic champion Americans are bidding for a record third World Cup title after winning in 1991 and 1999; World Cup host Germany claimed the crown in 2003 and 2007.

[silentseason]

Standing ovation for my Gator gal, Abby Wambach.