London 2012 Olympics: Alex Morgan heads US women into football final

By IAN PARKES
Published on 07/08/2012 01:11

The United States grabbed a last-gasp extra-time winner to seal their place in the women’s Olympics football final for the fifth successive tournament after a thrilling 4-3 win over North American rivals Canada.

Not even a hat-trick from the Canadian captain Christine Sinclair – the first against the US for 11 years – could deny the Americans their place in Thursday’s showdown at Wembley.

That match will now be a repeat of last year’s World Cup final in which Japan triumphed on penalties following a 2-2 draw at the end of 120 minutes.

Another shoot-out was on the cards at Old Trafford until, in the third minute of injury time at the end of extra time, golden girl Alex Morgan sent a looping ten-yard header over goalkeeper Erin McLeod to break Canadian hearts.

Three times Consett-born coach John Herdman’s team took the lead, but three times they were pegged back to force the additional 30 minutes.

Canada who grabbed the only goal of the first half courtesy of a superbly-worked 22nd-minute move.

Marie-Eve Nault’s through ball found Melissa Tancredi on the edge of the area for a lay-off into the path of Sinclair who proceeded to turn inside Kelley O’Hara before firing home from 10 yards.

The United States failed to register a single shot on target in the opening half, their best efforts two headers narrowly wide from Morgan and Abby Wambach.

But ten minutes after the restart Swedish coach Pia Sundhage’s side were level in bizarre fashion, with Megan Rapinoe scoring direct from a corner curled into the near post.

Then came a burst of four goals in 13 minutes, with two Sinclair headers to complete her hat-trick and take her tally to 143 goals for her country, sandwiching a stunning 16-yard strike from Rapinoe.

But in the 80th minute Wambach also notched up her 143rd goal with a spot-kick after Nault was penalised for handling a free-kick from inside the area from Rapinoe.

Morgan ultimately emerged the heroine to give America their 43rd win in 50 meetings with Canada and keep her team on course for a fourth Olympic gold medal.

Sundhage described her team’s ability to come back as “a gift”, adding: “It says everything about this team. This team refuses to lose and always finds a way to win. If you look in their eyes and listen to Abby there is something special about this team.

“They have an extra gear. This US team since ‘91, and which I’ve been lucky to coach for the last five years, has always been like that. It’s unique, wonderful.”

Asked whether last year’s defeat to Japan still hurts, Sundhage added: “That will be an interesting question tomorrow. “I first need a sleep and to enjoy the moment because this is unique. Right now I’m not even thinking about the final.”

Herdman said: “It felt like it was the US and the referee against us. It is what it is. Referees make decisions.”