First let me start by saying its been way too long since my last post so what better way to make a comeback then....women's world cup?? Yup, I never ever thought I would write about women's soccer but after the game on Sunday how could you not. Just in case some of you have been living under a rock, on Sunday the US fell behind Brazil 2-1 in extra time. In the 122nd minute (the latest goal ever in WWC history) Abby Wambach scored to tie it up at 2, only to go on to win on penalty kicks 5-3. So I'll be the one to pose the question, is this game the best finish ever?Now I know there have been dozens and dozens of fantastic finishes. Whether its a game winning hit to win a world series, a buzzer beater in the NCAA tournament, a game winning field goal anyway you get the point plenty to choose from. This game sticks out because of the situation to me. First there was a questionable re-do of a penalty kick. Hope Solo made a fantastic save that kept the game 1-0 US. However the ref called encroachment, Marta kicked the second one to tie the game. Then on Brazil's second goal it seemed that Brazil was offsides, and lets not forget the Americans played a woman down for about 35 minutes. As time continued to tick away it became apparent that the US was on there way out, until Brazil actually helped out.
In the 115th minute Brazil's Ericka looked to be injured and stayed on the field for a couple of minutes. When she was stretchered off the field she jumped up and sprinted to her bench then back on the field. This was obviously done to waste time, only it backfired. The minutes she spent on the ground were added on to the end of the game and we all know what happens next. The main reason i pose the question is how everything had to work perfectly for that final goal to be scored. First of all the pass, a couple inches higher and Wambach cant get to it, a couple inches lower and the goalie knocks it away. The game also went only for only about a minute after the goal it was a last ditch effort, that worked out. It also was a revenge game for the US, Brazil knocked them out in the 2007 world cup.
Its hard to compare this game to other great finishes in sports and of course this one will stick out more because it just happened. Whether or not you think it was an all time great finish you can guarantee that tomorrows game might be one of the highest rated sporting events in recent memory.
