DRESDEN, Germany — Running low on hope and almost out of time, the Americans were surely beat, about to make their earliest exit from the Women’s World Cup.
And then, with one of the most thrilling goals in U.S. history, they weren’t.
Showing a dramatic burst, the Americans packed an entire World Cup’s worth of theatrics into a 15-minute span by beating Brazil 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie yesterday.
Abby Wambach tied it with a magnificent, leaping header in the 122nd minute, and Hope Solo denied the Brazilians — again — in one of the most riveting games in the history of the World Cup, men’s or women’s.
“There is something special about this group,” Solo said. “Even in overtime, you felt something was going to happen.”
The United States advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals against France, which eliminated England on penalty kicks Saturday. And while the Americans will have to win twice more to win the final, they are the only one of the favorites left after two-time defending champ Germany was stunned by Japan on Saturday night.
In the other quarterfinal yesterday, Sweden ousted Australia 3-1.
The U.S. victory came 12 years to the day the Americans’ last caught their country’s attention in a big way with their penalty-kick shootout victory over China at the Rose Bowl that gave them their second World Cup title. This one created enough of a buzz that highlights were shown on the Jumbotron at Yankee Stadium, drawing big cheers.
Wambach and the Americans pushed themselves to the limit while playing a woman short after Rachel Buehler’s 66th-minute ejection.
“Not for one second,” Wambach said when asked if she ever felt the Americans were beat. “I kept saying, all it takes is one chance. I kept holding up one finger to the girls.”
Two minutes into stoppage time, Megan Rapinoe blasted a left-footed cross from 30 yards out on the left side that Andreia didn’t come close to getting her hands on. Wambach, one of the best players in the world in the air, made contact and with one furious whip of her head, buried it in the near side of the net from about five yards.
Wambach let out a primal scream and slid into the corner, pumping her fists and quickly mobbed by teammates. No goal had ever been scored that deep into a World Cup game.
The Americans, shooting first, made their three penalty kicks only to have Cristiane and Marta easily match them. But then it was Daiane’s turn — the same Daiane who’d given the U.S. a 1-0 lead with an own goal in the second minute of the game. She took a hard shot, but Solo stretched out and batted it away. Though the U.S. still had to make two more, the celebration was already starting.
After Rapinoe blistered the net with a blast and Ali Krieger converted hers, the Americans raced onto the field, their joy only matched by that of the pro-American crowd of 25,598.
In the 65th minute, with the U.S. ahead 1-0, Marta beat two American defenders in the box before Buehler dragged her down. Australian referee Jacqui Melksham not only ruled it a penalty but a red card as well. Cristiane, who already scored one goal off a penalty, took the kick. Solo made a perfect read and smacked it away, pumping her fists as Lloyd ran toward her to grab her in a bear hug.
But Melksham ordered the penalty retaken — and gave Solo a yellow card, ruling the American had left her line or a teammate encroached the penalty area before the kick was taken. Replays clearly showed Solo was on her line.
“I have no idea,” Solo said. “It is what it is.”
Marta scored on the retry to tie the game, and then scored again in the 92nd minute to give Brazil a 2-1 lead. But Wambach, Solo and the Americans were able to bounce back.
“We’re just fighting for each other out there,” said captain Christie Rampone, the last player left from the 1999 squad. “We were totally believing the whole time.”