Game on! Go USA!
Tune in now to your local FOX network!
Tune in now to your local FOX network!
U.S. veteran Abby Wambach, making her first start of the World Cup, scored her first goal of the tournament and the 183rd of her storied international career to push the Americans past Nigeria on Tuesday in Vancouver, Canada.
The 1-0 victory allowed the U.S. to win their group and advance into the elimination round, where they'll face another group's third-place team on Monday, followed by a possible matchup against Cameroon or China later next week.
The Americans dominated the match, taking twice as many shots as the Nigerians. Nigeria's players who also received three yellow cards, including one to defender Sarah Nnodim. It was her second of the tournament, resulting in a red card and ejection.
In the other game in Group D, Australia tied Sweden, taking second place and advancing to face Brazil. Sweden ended in third place, but may still have another match, as four of the six third-place teams will move on. The loss to the U.S. eliminated Nigeria.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-...inst-surprising-nigerian-team-at-the-world-cu
Another touchdown!
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
The Americans won and advanced to the quarterfinals at the Women's World Cup, but lost midfielders Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday for its next match, as each received her second yellow card of the tournament.
Lauren Holiday of the United States is given a yellow card Monday in the first half against Colombia in a Women's World Cup match in Edmonton, Canada. She also received one in an earlier match against Australia, so Holiday will be suspended for the Americans' next match.
The U.S. beat Columbia 2-0 Monday night behind second-half goals by Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd, the latter off a penalty kick. Colombia had only 10 women on the field for most of the second half after goalie Catalina Perez was issued a red card.
Morgan's first goal of the tournament comes in her second start; the injury-hampered forward came off the bench in the team's first two matches.
Rapinoe and Holiday, both of whom were carded against Australia earlier this month, have both started every game of the tournament for the Americans, but won't be available when the team goes up against China on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Chinese squad was the 16th-best in the world in the most recent FIFA rankings.
Defender Ali Krieger sends the ball during the Americans' final Group D match last week against Nigeria. The U.S. won the game, 1-0, moving on to the knockout round of the Women's World Cup.
The U.S. hasn't lost during this World Cup. But the team still hasn't hit its stride this tournament, either. Head coach Jill Ellis has tinkered with the starting lineup in each of the three games so far. The defense, led by Julie Johnston (and Hope Solo, of course) has looked the best for the U.S. Up front, Ellis has struggled to find the perfect formula of speed, agility and team cohesion to score goals. (Christen Press, Abby Wambach, Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan have all had starts.) The U.S. dominated Australia in their opener, winning 3-1. But the Americans struggled against Sweden with a scoreless draw, and a tight 1-0 victory over Nigeria.
But that doesn't matter now. It's the knockout round of the World Cup. The winner advances to the quarterfinals, and the loser heads home.
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET. You can watch the game on Fox Sports 1 and NBC Universo.