USA 3 FRANCE 1
The score here is a little deceiving as this game was far from being a blowout. In fact, the score could have very easily been 3-1 the other way as France outshot the Americans 25-11. But Hope Solo's 7 saves and another huge header from Abby Wambach ensured the U.S. would be advancing to the finals. For the second straight game, the U.S. was able to get on the board early when Lauren Cheney flicked in a Heather O'Reilly cross in the 9th minute. But for the second straight game they were unable to put a team away early and France quickly took over control of the game. After coming close on a number of chances in the first half, the French finally broke through when Sonia Bompastor, who had hit the crossbar in the first half, floated a cross into the box towards Gaetane Thiney right in front of the net. Solo was frozen on the play and as Thiney dummied the cross it skipped untouched into the corner of the net tying the game at 1. That would lead head coach Pia Sundhage to make two big changes. 22 year old strike Alex Morgan replaced Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe would come on for Carli Lloyd dropping Lauren Cheney back into the middle adding some stability to the U.S. attack. It finally paid off when they forced a corner and Cheney hit who else but Abby Wambach on the back post who powered the header Bérangère Sapowicz to make it 2-1. It was Wambach's 3rd goal of the World Cup, 12th career World Cup goal and the 121st goal of her International Career. Morgan would get in on the action just minutes later when she got in behind the French defense taking a pass from Rapinoe and then chipping the ball in over a sliding Sapowicz to make it 3-1 and all but guaranteeing the U.S. their first trip to the Finals since winning the Cup in PKs in 1999. Even with the loss France has enjoyed their best International Tournament ever, never before having made it out of the Group Stage in the World Cup (this was their second appearance) and never advancing past the Quarterfinals in the European Championship in 4 tries dating back to 1997.
Photo Courtesy: supportyourlocalgunfighter.com
JAPAN 3 SWEDEN 1
I'll be honest, I took Sweden in this one, and I really thought I was looking smart when Josefine Öqvist scored 10 minutes in to give the Swedes a 1-0 lead. But the Japanese, who had already defeated the powerful Germans in the Quarterfinals, would not lie down in this one. And there would be an unlikely star for the Japanese today as Nahomi Kawasumi, who had played all of 29 minutes in the first four matches, started and then tied the game up in the 19th minute. The two teams went into the intermission tied up at 1, but Homare Sawa, who had a hat trick against Mexico during Group Play scored her 4th goal of the tournament to put Japan in the lead. Then it was Kawasumi again taking center stage who caught Hedvig Lindahl off her line and chipped her from nearly 40 yards out to clinch it for the Japanese. So Japan, who had just 3 wins in their first 5 World Cups have now won 4 games here in 2011 and will be playing in their first Championship game. Sweden meanwhile, misses a chance to play in their second World Cup Final and will instead play in the consolation game for the second time in 6 World Cups.
Photo Courtesy: theaustralian.com.au
WORLD CUP FINAL PREVIEW
The U.S. catches a bit of break here in not having to play Sweden who has already beaten them twice this year, once in the Four Nations Tournament and once in Group Play. Instead they get Japan who they defeated twice in friendlies back in May by identical 2-0 scores. Amy Rodriguez scored in each game for the U.S. with Abby Wambach and Heather O'Reilly also getting on the board. The U.S. also defeated Japan twice back in 2008 by scores of 1-0 in Group play at the Summer Olympics, and then 4-2 in the Olympic semifinals where Japan had an early 1-0, but then watched the Americans reel off 4 straight goals. Ten of Japan's eleven starters from that game are on the current World Cup roster. To think history is any guarantee that the U.S. will win this game would be a mistake though as Japan has clearly shown they have elevated their game to the next level with a blowout win over Mexico, and wins over powerhouses Germany and Sweden. Homare Sawa will enter the finals tied with Brazilian star Marta for the scoring lead with 4 goals and the only blemish on Japan's 2011 World Cup resume is a 2-0 loss to England that only came after they'd already clinched a spot in the second round. Still, this U.S. team seems like the team of destiny and will look to end the American's World cup title drought having not won since 1999. I do not Abby Wambach, Hope Solo and company willing to let this one slip through their fingers. It's kind of ironic that the U.S. is in this position when back in April they had to win a two game series against Italy just to earn the right to play in the World Cup. Funny how things work out. Prediction: USA 2 Japan 1 and the U.S.'s first World Cup Title in over a decade.
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