Alex Morgan provided the game winning goal in USWNT's win over Colombia on Monday. - Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
It's a rematch of the 1999 World Cup final tonight. Can Alex Morgan and USWNT advance despite missing a couple of key midfielders (had to sit out after receiving two yellow cards in this tournament)?
Women's World Cup Quarterfinal: U.S.A. vs. China
Match date/time: Friday, 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, Canada
TV: FOX (English), NBC Deportes (Spanish)
Streaming: Fox Sports Go
In the 1999 World Cup Final, one time Golden Bear (she started her collegiate career at Cal before transferring to Santa Clara) Brandi Chastain provided perhaps the most famous moment ever in the history of Women's Soccer - converting the penalty kick that in shootout that clinched the second World Cup title for the United States women.
The two countries will meet again today to determine who will advance to the World Cup Semifinal. The winner will take on the winner of Germany/France form earlier today.
The United States women were able to advance to the quarter today thanks to the heroics of Cal Women's Soccer alum Alex Morgan. After the U.S. women were held scoreless in the first half, Morgan on a break away drew a red card on the Colombian goalkeeper. Although Abby Wambach proceed to miss the penalty kick, Alex Morgan provided the winning goal when her and the USWNT were able to take advantage of the extra women advantage against a feisty Colombia squad.
Perhaps even more importantly, Alex Morgan was able to play the full 90 minutes in that match, showing that she has regain her full fitness after recovering from a knee injury that forced her to miss all the warm up games since April.
Unfortunately for the US, they will be without midfielders Lauren Holiday (UCLA alum) and Megan Rapinoe since both of them picked up their 2nd yellow cards of the tournament against Colombia.
The Chinese squad is not great this year, so maybe the USWNT can get by without those two key players. The recipe for the USWNT so far this World Cup has been a great defense and good goaltending from Hope Solo (Washington alum). The offense has struggled but now that Alex Morgan is getting healthier with each match, maybe that is all the USWNT needs.
GO BEARS!
GO USA!
