U.S. soccer women rally in OT to beat Canada, will face Japan for Olympic gold medal

United States' Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates with teammate Alex Morgan after scoring against Canada during their semifinal women's soccer match at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Aug. 6, 2012 at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England. / AP Photo/Jon Super

(AP) MANCHESTER, England - Rising soccer star Alex Morgan knocked in a header during injury time in the second overtime period to lift the U.S. women's soccer team over Canada 4-3 and set up a rematch of last year's World Cup final, which was won by Japan.

Morgan's 6-yard header, on a long cross from Heather O'Reilly, looped high into the net over goalkeeper Erin McLeod for the winning goal. Megan Rapinoe scored in the 54th and 70th minutes, and Abby Wambach in the 80th for the U.S.

The Americans overcame a hat trick from Christine Sinclair, who scored in the 22nd, 67th and 73rd minutes for Canada.

Next comes the game the U.S. players have been eyeing for more than a year, a rematch with Japan on Thursday at Wembley Stadium with gold on the line. The top-ranked Americans lost to Japan on penalty kicks in the World Cup final last summer, a stunning blow that became a source of motivation as the players prepared for this year's Olympics.

The U.S. team has played in the title match in every Summer Games since women's soccer was introduced in Atlanta in 1996, winning the gold in 1996, 2004 and 2008 and the silver in 2000.

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Alex Morgan

The Americans advanced by continuing its dominance of the neighbor to the north, extending its unbeaten streak against Canada to 27 games (23-0-4). The Americans lead the all-time series 44-3-5, the last loss coming at the Algarve Cup in 2001.

But it wasn't easy. Sinclair was an imposing force, scoring her 141st, 142nd and 143rd goals in international play. She's now even with Wambach for No. 2 on the all-time list, both chasing Mia Hamm's world record of 158.

Canada coach John Herdman said before the game that the run of futility against the Americans was on the minds of his players, and he addressed it with them in the run-up to the match. He also injected some pregame intrigue by accusing the Americans of using "highly illegal," overly physical tactics on free kicks and corner kicks.

Certainly, his team gave one of its most spirited efforts on the biggest stage ever for a game between the neighboring rivals, scoring the most goals the U.S. has allowed since a 5-4 win by the Americans over Australia in May 2008.

The game included a pair of goals resulting from moments rarely seen in soccer, including a corner kick that curled in for a goal and a goalkeeper whistled for holding the ball too long.

The Americans dominated possession in the early minutes, but then the U.S. defense did the unexplainable — it lost track of one of the top goal-scorers of all time.

Marie-Eve Nault played a ball ahead to Melissa Tancredi, who tapped a pass over to Sinclair. Sinclair then slalomed through the penalty area, maneuvering around defender Kelley O'Hara to beat goalkeeper Hope Solo with simple right-footer from 10 yards.

It was the first goal allowed by the U.S. in more the 360 minutes, since a pair of early scores by France in the Olympic opener two weeks ago. The U.S. also trailed at halftime for the first time in this tournament.

The Americans found an unconventional way to pull even early in the second half, with Rapinoe scoring directly on a corner kick. She curled the ball just inside the near post, glancing off the legs of defender Lauren Sesselmann and goalkeeper McLeod as it settled in the net.

Then came a wild sequence of three goals in six minutes. The Tancredi-Sinclair combo worked again, with Sinclair heading Tancredi's cross just inside the post from 10 yards to put Canada ahead 2-1. Three minutes later, Rapinoe got her second, launching a right-footer from the edge of the area and off the post.

Then it was Tancredi again, leaping high to head in a corner kick, again just inside the post for goal No. 143, moving her temporarily ahead of Wambach.

Wambach got even with Sinclair — and tied the game — with a penalty kick resulting from an unusual call: McLeod was whistled for holding the ball more than six seconds, giving the Americans an indirect free kick inside the area. Rapinoe took the kick, and it glanced off the arm of Nault. The referee awarded the spot kick, which Wambach converted off the left post in the 80th minute.

The game became a battle of attrition in extra time, with the Americans having the better of the chances. Wambach put a header off the crossbar in the 119th minute. The officials then declared there would be three minutes of injury time, just enough for Morgan to put one in and avoid the penalty kick shootout.

[Klara1001]

This has nothing to do with being a crybaby - I'm glad we won but the calls were terrible and the Canadians were right to complain. As avid soccer fans and players we were kind of shocked by the low quality of officiating in this Olympic game. Too bad.
But on we go and hopefully the officiating is improved for the gold medal game!

[lillyhorton]

I agree with the post below me siting the misuse of the word HEROICS. I read this thinking she saved a players life while putting her own life in danger. These athlets play to win the game not for someone who needs a new kidney but for themselves.

[michaelz06]

I didn't know they grew sour grapes north of the border. There were some questionable calls that went both ways....there usually are. Winning teams find ways to overcome that. Maybe this childish "we was robbed" attitude explains Canada's record against the US. 0-23-4 isn't it?

[it_figures]

Wow, "heroics"? Really? If you actually watched that game and think that the US team won heroically, then either you don't understand the game, or you are completely blinded by your immense arrogance. There was very bad officiating in this game and any honest, objective spectator could see that. When you win a game, show some class and stop gloating in your reporting, it's embarrassing.

[JoeCommenter]

Agree 100% with the robbery assessment. The 6-second rule is never enforced at the highest levels in either men's or women's. The ensuing penalty call was bogus also as it was ball-to-arm on the free kick. The referee missed a number of other calls (both ways) as well. Far too often, important matches in top competitions are decided by the mistakes of officials, instead of the players' skill ...

[CDivenGator]

Dear Joe, Actually the 6 second rule has been enforced in the past, against Hope Solo in fact. Either way, there were 14+ minutes left in the match...as the US scored with <40 seconds to go, it is more than likely they would have equalized without the call. Speaking of calls, if you did watch the match, there were other penalties in the box that the ref did not call against Canada as they tried to toughen up their game. Canada played one of the best football matches I have ever seen. Sinclair is an incredible player and deserves the highest honor soccer can give a player...Marta smarta! No offense. Wring out your crying towel, it was a tough loss, but look at the numbers and the replay.

[opedanderson2]

Canada was totally ROBBED of the victory. That free kick inside the box for the keeper holding the ball too long was completely bogus!

[CDivenGator]

That's not what won the game crybaby!