Solo bored, Wambach scores to clinch top berth

United States 1:0 Korea DPR

By Kara McDermott

The US women finished up group play in the Olympics today with a rainy 1-0 victory over Korea DPR to secure the top berth in Group G.

Korea concentrated their strength down the center corridor, swarming the ball when possible and in general muddling the Americans’ feet whenever possible and holding them to their lowest scoreline of the tournament so far.

Sweeper and captain Christie Rampone held a firm high line, forcing the Koreans to not only break through but also outrun a very fit backline. With the space of the field set, the US midfield was left to decide the pace and run of play. They looked to the outsides to advance the ball, relying on the speed and craft of Megan Rapinoe and later Tobin Heath on the left and Heather O’Reilly opposite.

The outer space came in handy in the 25th minute. Lauren Cheney, tucked right of center, sent a long ball into the box. Alex Morgan ran across the goal from the far side, dragging two defenders in the wake of her speed. She brought the ball down and turned inside, but was quickly closed down. She squeezed a putt between two defenders to Abby Wambach running on, who opened up her body position to one-time the ball with the inside of her right foot to the right corner.

That goal would stand solitary on the scoreboard for the Americans, despite taking eight shots on goal out of 16 total. Goalkeeper O Chang Ran had several acrobatic saves that kept her team in the match.

She was aided by the crossbar lowering and the posts pinching at key moments of the American attack (the right post in particular was the bane of Wambach and Morgan). Against a nearly constant onslaught from the US, it was their own raised toes that acted as the best defense for Korea.

Hope Solo was left alone at the far end of Old Trafford making daisy chains while in front her team endured a very physical game. North Korea had three shots on the day, none on goal, but tallied four cards and 12 fouls.

Choe Mi Gyong subbed into the match in the 63rd minute and hadn’t played 15 before she received a yellow card for a slamming into Carli Lloyd in the 77th minute with the ball no where in sight (humorously though, Lloyd maintained her feet while the smaller player fell to the ground). The lesson from the center ref apparently didn’t stick because she came from behind on Cheney in the 81st minute to earn a second yellow and a send-off.

Korea’s one win against Colombia was not enough to earn a wild card slot, so they will have to sit tight until Olympic qualification comes again. A doping scandal that came to light after the last World Cup means they will be banned for Canada 2015, effectively keeping them off the world stage until the next Summer Games.

For the lucky advancers, quarterfinals will be played on Friday, August 3. The US will play New Zealand at 6:30 a.m. PST.