U.S. women's soccer team in Olympic final

 

BEIJING -- Four years after the era of Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain ended with a gold medal in Athens, it wasn't clear how the United States would fare with a new generation of women's soccer players.

Then leading scorer Abby Wambach broke her leg just before the team left for China.

Then the United States lost its Olympic opener to Norway.

Not to worry. The U.S. team hasn't lost since and now is in the championship game, again playing for a gold medal, after a 4-2 semifinal victory Monday over Japan.

The United States meets Brazil, who won 4-1 in the semifinal over Germany, in the final.

Japan took the lead in the 16th minute, but Angela Hucles scored two goals and Lori Chalupny and Heather O'Reilly each scored once. Japan added a consolation goal in the 93rd minute.

This is the fourth Olympics for women's soccer, and the fourth time the United States has been in the final. It won in 1996 and 2004 and finished second in 2000.

--Randy Harvey

Photo: Angela Hucles, left, and Lindsay Tarpley (5) of the U.S. celebrate Hucles' opening goal during a 2008 Beijing Games women's semifinal soccer match on Monday against Japan. The U.S. won, 4-2.  Credit: Michael Sohn / Associated Press

Comments

[ana tantum]

what time is the champioship game between brazil and usa women soccer teams?

[Linda]

Kudos to the our gals for making it to the final without Abby! I'd love a little payback for the ouster by the Brazilans during the last World Cup. GO USA!!

[J Banks]

It is awesome that the women's team is in the finals. What would be better is if NBC would acknowledge this an actually show the match either live or a rebroadcast. Instead, we will get to watch the semi final of trampoline gymnastics or some other equally exciting 'sport'.

[Lilly]

EEEEEP!!! im so excited. i love love love love...you get the point... soccer!!! i am extremely happy with the fact that USA made it. and i totally agree with J Banks about them actually showing the game.
i think they might show it on OLMPS or something like that. it is a channel devoted only to olympic soccer. so yup!