Wambach, Solo key in riveting US win over Brazil

DRESDEN, Germany (AP):

Any time she caught a teammate's eye, Abby Wambach held up one finger. It had nothing to do with the shrinking numbers on the clock.

"I kept saying, 'All it takes is one chance. It takes one second to score a goal'," Wambach said.

Regulation. Overtime. Stoppage time. Penalty kicks. Through it all, the Americans never lost faith they'd pull it out.

Did they ever?

The Americans advanced to the semi-finals with one of the most riveting victories in the history of the World Cup - men's or women's - beating old foe Brazil 5-3 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie.

When Ali Krieger hammered the last penalty into the bottom left corner of the net, the Americans let loose with a raucous celebration that soon spread back to the United States. Highlights of the game even got time on the Jumbotron at Yankee Stadium.

"There's something to be said about this team. This American attitude of pulling everything together and bringing out the best performance in each other is contagious," said US coach Pia Sundhage, a Swede. "I am very, very proud and I'm very, very happy to be the coach for the US team."

For Brazil, it is yet another disappointment at a major tournament. And this one is sure to sting more than any other because Marta had it won for the Brazilians, scoring her second goal of the game in the second minute of overtime for the 2-1 lead.

Wambach scored in the 122nd minute - about 90 seconds before the Americans were to make their earliest exit ever from the tournament they've won twice - and Hope Solo continued her mastery of the Brazilians in the penalty shoot-out by batting down an attempt by Daiane.

"Everything seemed to be on the safe side, but it wasn't," Brazil's coach Kleiton Lima said. "Unfortunately there was the goal."

The US victory comes exactly 12 years to the day the Americans beat China in a penalty-kick shoot-out at the Rose Bowl to win their second World Cup title, a watershed moment for the US team and women's sports in general. This, the Americans insist, is another special group.

With two-time defending champion Germany and Brazil gone, the Americans figure to be favourites to win their third title. They play France in tomorrow night's semi-final and will face either Japan or Sweden in next Sunday's final. Sweden beat the United States 2-1 in the final group stage game, their second victory this year over the Americans.

"We're just fighting for each other out there," said captain Christie Rampone, the last player left from the 1999 squad. "We were totally believing the whole time."

Marta and the Brazilians, meanwhile, watched in stunned silence as the Americans celebrated and Cristiane had to wipe away tears several times during post-game interviews.