Hippocrates In San Diego

United States v Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

September 11, 2007 at 5:18 pm | In Reports, Soccer, Sports

Against a surprisingly strong Korean team (although so little is known about their players, they could have been surprisingly weak as well), the young US team struggled against a physical and well-polished attack, going into halftime scoreless. They were lucky to take advantage of a lapse in marking of Abby Wambach, their tall, strong striker, who pummeled the ball off the keeper’s outstretched hands and into the net.

US 1 - 0 PRK

Wambach suffered a scalp cut after a collision with the Korean keeper (resulting in the US playing a woman down for several minutes while Wambach received medical attention), and the US shockingly suffered a goal after their inexperienced keeper, Hope Solo, let the wet ball slide between her hands and into the net. Korea should be commended, however, for not imploding under the pressure after one the world’s top teams took a one goal lead.

US 1 - 1 PRK

The US seemed to be in shock from the goal — they must have been thinking about the possibility of facing Germany in the next round if they finish in second place in their first-round group. Some sloppy play in the back from the US resulted in another Korean goal, just minutes after the first. After accruing a 46 game unbeaten streak (and after not trailing in a game at any point since 2006), the US needed to muster their courage and regain their composure. However Abby Wambach remained on the sidelines receiving medical attention for several minutes.

US 1 - 2 PRK

After seemingly calming down, the US resumed their typical ball control style, and began pressuring the Korean defense and forcing them into some sloppy play. After a Korean turnover at midfield, the US quickly counterattacked and finished with a nice volley by Heather O’Reilly into the upper right corner of the Korean goal, tying the game in the 70th minute.

US 2 - 2 PRK

The US threatened to take the extra points for the win in the 78th minute, after a gorgeous midfield free kick from Stephanie Lopez sailed into the 6-yard box in front of the Korean goal, but Abby Wambach — after receiving stitches and finally returning to the field — just missed a header wide left of the goal. The US would threaten on goal several more times, but North Korea was persistently strong, loading their goalmouth with 7 or 8 players on defense and cleaning up sloppy passes in the midfield.

Neither side were able to capitalize and the final whistle blew — but not before a likely game-winning rocket shot was launched from 25 yards out from the US goal in the 3rd minute of injury time, saved beautifully by US keeper Solo, redeeming her as a quality keeper and saving the game for the US. This challenging match-up raised questions about the experience of this US team and raised the hopes of a very young Korean team that wasn’t expected to contend for a second-round berth.

Final
United States 2 - 2 North Korea

Goals
50′ Wambach (US)
58′ Kil (PRK)
62′ Kim (PRK)
69′ O’Reilly (US)

Cards
US: Rampone (Yellow)
PRK: Jong (Yellow)

Subs
US: Kai for O’Reilly, 92′
PRK: Kim for Ho, 22′; Jong for Kim, 90′

Image courtesy ESPN Soccernet