Wambach leads US Women to win with historic goal

 

August 1, 2012

 

MANCHESTER, England - Cheers erupted Tuesday when U.S. forward Abby Wambach become the first woman to score an international goal in the historic Old Trafford stadium, leading her team to a 1-0 victory against North Korea.

 

The U.S. began the game with a strong lineup including star finishers Wambach and Alex Morgan alongside captain and defender Christie Rampone and the quick refluxed Hope Solo in goal. They used this power line to gain the upper hand in early exchanges with Morgan hitting the post and Rampone attempting a long shot from midfield. 

 

Wambach grabbed the game winning shot 25 minutes into the first half when Morgan softly passed her the ball allowing her to slip past the last North Korean defender for a beautiful opening goal.

 

Throughout the remainder of the half, North Korea maintained the same positions, without urgency, despite the early U.S. goal. Their approach reflected the U.S. mode of unaggressive play.  However, the U.S. had already secured their place in the semi-final games, while the North Koreans needed to capture necessary goals to advance.

 

“Our team is made up of very young players, so there is nobody who can blame them for not doing well,” North Korean coach Sin Ui Gun said in response to the team’s lack of attack.

 

The second half began with a scare from defender Kim Nam Hui, an attempted goal kick that was driven wide. U.S. coach Pia Sundhage switched Rampone for midfielder Tobin Heath to preserve energy, but the switch caused the US to loose focus.

 

They began to fall back into old habits and repeated the mistake of rushing forward and loosing possession causing them to miss chances to add to their lead before the game ended 1-0. 

 

Despite the slow pace of the game, Wambach was pleased to experience a win in the legendary Manchester United stadium.

 

“We would’ve liked to get a few more goals.  It was awesome. So many U.S. fans came for this game specifically to watch at Old Trafford. It’s a dream come true for a lot of us and it’s amazing to have got a goal,” she said.

 

Wambach returned to the Olympic stage this year after a broken leg caused her absence from the 2008 Beijing Games. Her return was much anticipated after proving her ability as a strategic finisher in the 2004 Athens Olympics, scoring the game-winning goal against Brazil for the gold medal.

 

And the team is certainly glad she’s back in the Olympic arena. 

 

Abby (Wambach) scored a great goal, which feels good for all of us,” Sundhage said after the win. “She’s been playing well and just shows how important she is for the team.” 

 

Sundhage attributes a large portion of the team’s success in the game not only to Wambach’s skill but also to Morgan’s excellent control and quick thinking in the assist.

 

“Morgan is always a threat regardless if she’s standing still or running 100 percent,” Sundhage commended.  “The way she receives the ball is way better than it was in 2011. She has improved her game tremendously and she wants to be more involved in the attack,” Sundhage said.

 

She proved her strength as a powerful striker in the team’s opening Olympic match, where she secured two goals in style, one soaring over the head of the French keeper. 

 

Morgan’s combination of speed and agility warrant her as a genuine threat to opponents, and her attractive, wholesome look has generated attention from both young girl soccer players and the male audience, making her the new face to watch in women’s soccer.

 

But it is Wambach who has secured a place in Old Trafford history. Before Tuesday’s game, the stadium had only hosted domestic games in women’s soccer, and the draw was not immediate. The last women’s game pulled in a small crowd of less than 1000 people. 

 

But the U.S. and North Korean flags waved proudly throughout the game Tuesday, and 29,522 fans cheered on the players in a true display of Olympic pride.

 

“It’s remarkable. You feel the fan support here,” goalkeeper Hope Solo said of Old Trafford. “The women’s game has come along way and we should be packing stadiums and playing on the best fields. We have a long way to go, but it’s a start and we feel really good.”

 

Solo and the rest of the U.S. Women certainly put on a show worth watching. The Dancing with the Stars veteran even dropped to the AstroTurf after Wambach’s goal and did “the worm” in celebration, to the delight of U.S. fans. 

 

“It was great to get her involved because it makes us feel what the game is about,” Wambach said about Solo’s victory dance. “It’s about fun. It’s about laughing and enjoying it out there - because how often are you going to say you played at Old Trafford and scored a goal?”

 

As far as HERstory is concerned, Solo will be the only woman to say she scored there first.

 

Quotes from Abby Wambach, Pia Sundhage, and Hope Solo credited to U.S. Soccer official website quote page for U.S. v. DPR Korea match

Sin Ui Gun quote credited to Joseph White, Associated Press

 

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