US Women’s Soccer Survives Scare vs. Netherlands to Reach Semis originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The U.S. Women’s National Team would not allow history to repeat itself.
Not after the team waited five years to avenge a quarterfinal loss on penalty kicks in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Not when they found themselves in that very position once again on Friday in Tokyo. Not in what could be the final Olympic run for a group of veteran players who are looking to restore pride and the team’s long-established gold standard.
Their run continues after the U.S. defeated Netherlands in penalty kicks during their quarterfinal knockout matchup of the Tokyo Olympics. Megan Rapinoe scored the winning PK to the upper corner, sending the United States to the semifinals against Canada.
Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan and Christen Press each scored during penalty kicks, while U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher made two stops – plus another on a penalty kick late in regulation to protect a 2-2 tie – to seal the dramatic victory.
The Winner of the U.S. and Netherlands Will Be Determined by Penalty Kicks
Some late shot attempts by Lindsey Horan went high and after 120 minutes of soccer, the U.S. and Netherlands remain tied at 2-2.
Time for penalty kicks.
Two More U.S. Goals Disallowed By Offside
For a moment it appeared the U.S. had punched its ticket to the semifinals.
But Christen Press’ goal off a ball played over the top by Megan Rapinoe in the 110th minute was disallowed for offside. That’s eight U.S. goals wiped off the board in Tokyo for the U.S. team because of offside.
Minutes later, Alex Morgan got behind the keeper and put one into the back of the net, but that too was negated by offside, bringing the grand total to nine.
Netherlands’ Goal Against U.S. Disallowed, Headed to Second Extra Time Session
Breathe in, breathe out.
It appeared that Netherlands had netted the go-ahead goal in the first extra time session, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Megan Rapinoe created a scoring opportunity minutes later after receiving a pass from Rose Lavelle and cutting inside, but she fired into the side netting.
At the other end, Julie Ertz denied a shot by a charging Vivianne Miedema, who was looking for a potential hat trick and game winner.
Alyssa Naeher made a beautiful diving stop on a header by Miedema in the 103rd minute, and the U.S. thwarted a pair of ensuing corner kicks.
That sends the two teams into the second session of extra time. If neither team finds the back of the net, we head to penalty kicks.
U.S. and Netherlands Headed to Extra Time
Well, 90 minutes of soccer was not enough to determine a winner.
The U.S. and Netherlands are headed for two 15-minute sessions of extra time.
Alyssa Naeher Makes Potential Game-Saving Save for U.S.
Alyssa Naeher just made a potential medal saving stop for the USWNT.
After a penalty on Kelly O’Hara in the box in the 80th minute of a 2-2 game, Naeher made a diving stop on the ensuing penalty kick by Lieke Martens to keep the U.S. tied.
U.S. Goal Disallowed Due To Offside
One ugly trend for the USWNT during the Tokyo Olympics has been the number of offside calls against the team.
Christen Press knocked in a cross from Lindsey Horan in the 63rd minute for what seemed like a crucial go-ahead goal to break a 2-2 tie, but it was waived off for offside and the call was upheld after a lengthy review.
It was the seventh U.S. goal of the Games that was disallowed, all due to offside.
Vivianne Miedema Scores Tying Goal for Netherlands
Vivianne Miedema now had 10 goals in the Tokyo Olympics.
She hasn’t had many touches on the ball in this quarterfinal matchup against the U.S., but the few that she has had, she has made count. Miedema found a gap and fired from the top of the box to net the tying goal in the 54th minute, evening the score at 2-2.
U.S. Leads Netherlands 2-1 at Halftime
The U.S. takes a 2-1 lead into the break.
Looking to secure a semifinal matchup against Canada, the USWNT had a 55 percent advantage in ball possession during the first half, generating three corner kicks to Netherlands’ one.
Lynn Williams Gives U.S. the Lead With Go-Ahead Goal
That’s two goals in less than three minutes for the United States.
Following a corner kick, Lynn Williams’ strike from the box found the back of the net to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead over Netherlands in the 31st minute.
Sam Mewis Scores Equalizer for the United States
The United States’ scoring drought is over.
Sam Mewis knocked in a diving header off a feed from Lynn Williams to even the score at 1-1 in the 28th minute.
United States Comes Out Strong But Netherlands Strikes First
The U.S. came out as aggressive on the attack as the team had been in Tokyo, spending the majority of the opening 18 minutes dominating possession in the Netherlands’ half.
The USWNT had a goal negated by offside in the 10th minute after Julie Ertz set up Tobin Heath for the score. Another near goal came when Lynn Williams sent a cross to Lindsey Horan, whose header required a diving stop by keeper Sari Van Veenendaal in the 14th minute.
Dominant as the USWNT had been to that point, the team soon found itself facing an early deficit. With the U.S. unable to clear the ball, Vivianne Miedema turned while surrounded by defenders and fired just inside the post to give the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute. It was Miedema’s ninth goal of the Tokyo Olympics.
U.S. and Netherlands square off in World Cup rematch
The biggest game of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics has arrived for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.
Team USA faces the Netherlands in a match that kicks off at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 30 at International Stadium Yokohama. The game will be available for viewing in the United States on NBCSN and Telemundo with streaming coverage also available through NBCOlympics.com.
The USWNT is looking to become the first to win Olympic gold directly after winning the World Cup. To continue its quest to do so, the U.S. will first have to defeat the team they beat in the final of the World Cup two years ago.
Netherlands, the reigning European champions, is scoring goals at a record-breaking pace, tallying 21 in group play to break the previous record of 16 set by the U.S. in 2012. The team has been led offensively by striker Vivianne Miedema, who has eight goals, also an Olympic group stage record.
The U.S. also is looking to avenge its stunning quarterfinal loss to Sweden in the 2016 Rio Olympics, the first time the team failed to medal. But this year’s team struggled through group play, winning just one of their three games and getting shutout twice, the last of which was during a scoreless draw against Australia.
The team will have to find the back of the net in order to avoid a second-straight quarterfinal loss in the Olympics.