USA lineup - Solo; Krieger, Rampone, Buehler, LePeilbet; O'Reilly, Lloyd, Lindsey, Cheney; RodrÃguez, Wambach
Colombia - Sepulveda; Montano, Gaitan, Peduzine, Arias; Ospina, Salazar, Dominguez, Rodallega; Castro, Usme
Brandi Chastain is rocking some mini French braids in the commentary. Haven't seen players in anything so fancy - probably because it would be a pain if it came loose. Cheney is composed in her interview - I remember her arrival to UCLA and how she used to have curly hair. The next generation of USA players is on the scene folks. There won't be another Mia, but they're still pretty good.
Not sure about the video intro piece with the male rock star violinist. O-kaay. Nice piece with the American high school students from Heidelburg, though.
The USA need to win to assure advancement. Sweden has already won twice, so a USA victory would eliminate both North Korea and Colombia. Colombia's players are singing, loud - "Yellow, blue and red, Colombia is in my heart": among other lyrics.
Just to clarify, Colombia's players were singing in the tunnel. Now everyone is on the field. Rampone doesn't sing the USA anthem. Too focused. Colombia's bench players are all singing the anthem as well. That's a bit unusual.
1 - USA free kick into the Colombia box, but they don't manage to get a shot off.
3 - A Rod is in the box, but her cross is cut off by the goalkeeper.
5 - Cheney sends a long ball for LePelbet, but then gets hacked and is limping slightly.
7 - SAVE!. Wambach gets a great pass from O'Reilly, but Sepulveda makes the tough save. Rodriguez rushes the shot on the rebound, misses high.
10 - A-Rod with another miss - this time off a fantastic through ball by Lori Lindsey, who looks very comfortable in midfield.
11 - Sepulveda catches an incoming cross.
12 - GOAL! OReilly showing A-Rod how it is done. Off the goal kick, a bad touch gives O'Reilly just a bit of a chance and she charges in for the ball and fires it straight into the side netting. Kickass kick. 1-0 USA
13 - The team celebrates in unison with a salute to the American military folk serving in Germany.
15 - Colombia do manage to cross the halfway line, there.
17 - O'Rielly tries to chip the keeper, who had come out to prevent an A'Rod run.
20 - Crowd boos as a Colombian chance gets snuffed. Sympathy for the underdog.
22 - O'Reilly again in the box, but she does a Cheney, shoots straight at the keeper.
23 - On the ensuing corner, Wambach goes wide with her header, after Cheney hit a great corner kick.
25 - USA again threatening the Colombia goal, but so far the lead remains narrow.
27 - A'Rod from the top of the box, but Sepulveda makes the save.
29 - Colombia is actually providing a bit of grit in the midfield for the last few minutes - it's not so unfettered for the USA now.
30 - Wambach misses an almost open header! Great O'Reilly cross to set it up.
32 - Castro on the break gets a weak shot off that was a bit wide, but Solo shut it down for practice anyway.
34 - USA corner kick, Cheney sets up. It's a bit far, but Colombia clear for a throw.
37 - It's a scramble in front of goal, and Cheney forces another Sepulveda save.
39 - Sepulveda out again to catch a pass before A-Rod can reach it.
41 - Sepulveda picks off another Cheney pass just before it reaches Wambach.
43 - Another USA attack is repelled.
45 - Colombia is offside, but Castro shoots and celebrates. Foudy mentions A-Rod might be subbed at halftime, but Wambach has been just as wasteful.
46 - It's Rapinoe who comes in for A-Rod.
48 - Another USA build-up is wasted.
49 - And Colombia are on the break, but Rampone snuffs it out before a shot gets off.
50 - GOAL! Rapinoe! She takes a pass from Cheney, cuts across the top of the box and hammers it in. 2-0 USA.
54 - Colombia goes down fighting, and Solo is forced into a high save.
55 - Colombia with another shot - this one low - Solo saves again.
57 - GOAL! Lloyd from distance hammers a shot and Sepulveda makes the save, sorta, but can't push it back strong enough and the ball drops in.
65 - It's more back and forth now for both teams.
68 - Rapinoe off the crossbar!
73 - With Colombia out of their defensive shell, the USA has more room to exploit chances.
75 - Tobin, one of my fave players, tried to do too much there, lost the ball.
77 - Technically, the USA women are having the same problem as the men this World Cup. None of their forwards are scoring yet.
79 - USA passing the ball around, not looking too eager to score.
80 - Wambach off the post! She didn't even get up for the rebound, she seemed so sure it would go in. It didn't.
83 - Rapinoe testing her dribble skills - eh, they're not so hot and she gets dispossessed of the ball.
84 - Wambach clatters into the keeper - and gets a yellow.
85 - Velasquez at the top of the box, hesitates and then shoots weakly. Carli Lloyd is limping.
88 - Despite the wasted chances, the USA have garnered a pretty efficient victory here.
90 + Rapine should have seen yellow for that tackle.
One last attack for Colombia, but Solo collects the through ball.
It's over! the USA win. It all comes down to the final match versus Sweden for the leadership of the group.
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