Alex Morgan, a member of the Seattle Sounders Women, headed in the winning goal in the 122nd minute, giving the USA women’s soccer team a dramatic 4-3 victory over Canada and a berth in Thursday’s gold-medal match against defending World Cup champion Japan. Morgan’s goal also preserved former University of Washington goalkeeper Hope Solo’s chance to win gold for a second consecutive Olympics.
Morgan’s goal, ending a sensational match, came just 30 seconds before the sides would have had to settle matters via penalty kicks.
“I’m still in shock, but we’re in the final,” said Morgan. “I didn’t care who scored as long as we got a friggin’ score. I didn’t even see the ball go in. My whole thought was just get your head on it.”
Megan Rapinoe, another member of the Sounders Women, scored two goals while Amy Wambaugh had the fourth, on penalty kicks.
Christine Sinclair had a hat trick for Canada, which has not beaten the United States in 27 matches covering 11 years.
Canada led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. Canada would have had a 2-0 lead at intermission if Solo hadn’t made a great athletic play to snatch a header from Sophie Schmidt.
“For some reason, we like to make things dramatic,” said Wambaugh. “But this is what we’ve been working for since we lost the World Cup to Japan.”
At the track venue Monday, Jarred Rome, a graduate of Marysville-Pilchuck High, finished 17th in qualifying with a throw of 195-4 and failed to make the 12-man discus final.
Amanda Furrer of Spokane, with a scorer of 581, finished 15th in qualifying in the 50-meter rifle, three-position, and didn’t make the final round. Jamie Lynn Gray of the U.S. won the gold medal.