Julie Johnston really got away with one last night. The officials helped her and the United States out tremendously.
The USWNT beat the #1 ranked side in the world, Germany, in commanding fashion. The American defense shut out the German attack, the highest scoring team in the tournament with 20 goals, completely. Deutschland never had any organically set up scoring chances.
The U.S. was great; but they were also extremely lucky.
America got lucky early on twice. Julie Johnston drew a yellow card for clobbering Alexandra Popp. Johnston should have been handed a red, and ejected from the game. It was a horribly blown call; and the U.S. was extremely fortunate there.
Lalas says Julie Johnston benefitted from the referee’s lenient yellow card call.
“This is a younger and less-experienced type of player that is having a phenomenal tournament. That looked to be that one moment that was going to live in infamy, and yet things just changed and the soccer gods act in strange ways. She is lucky to have stayed in that game because that was as clear of a red card as I’ve seen.”
Given the MVP level performance turned in by Johnston this tourney, this gaffe was rather unexpected.
On the ensuing penalty kick, Germany’s Célia Šaši?, the tournament’s leading goal scorer, missed wide left. It marked the first time ever that Germany missed a PK in Women’s World Cup history. So the U.S. were graced by the Soccer Gods a second time.
From there, the U.S. cruised to their best performance of the World Cup, convincingly beating the best team in the world. They’ll face the winner of tonight’s Japan-England contest on Sunday in the championship game. Germany never even registered a shot on goal, as Hope Solo recorded a 0 save clean sheet.
Lalas says the USWNT is poised to win its third World Cup.
“Jill Ellis got it right and deserves a tremendous amount of credit. We saw Carli Lloyd at the end of the game give an interview and say she’s thinking about bigger things – go out there and win that World Cup. It’s been 16 years, and now, after having taken care of Germany, it is right there in the palm of your hand.”
“If they go on to lose in the final, it would be an incredible disappointment considering who they just beat.”
Julie Johnston was very emotional about the huge mistake she made, as she was seen crying on the field.
“It was a roller coaster of emotion,” she said in the post game interview.
“From relieved to disappointed in myself, everything. It was a lot to take on for sure.”
In the end, it didn’t matter though as Julie Johnston and company emerged victorious. They got a huge break on the yellow card, but the USWNT almost certainly would have won anyway.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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