WASHINGTON, DC (Aug 18, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Though the score suggests otherwise, the United States didn't dominate their 4-2 semifinal win over Japan on Monday. The Japanese missed multiple opportunities to keep the game close, with the US beating them for the second time in the tournament.
Japan took the lead in the 16th minute through Shinobu Ohno and almost took it to halftime. Instead, the US responded late in the half, with Angela Hucles equalizing in the 41st and Lori Chalupny giving the US the lead in the 44th. The US added two more in the second half: Heather O'Reilly scoring in the 70th and Angela Hucles getting her second in the 80th. Japan hit the crossbar late and finally got a goal in injury time from Eriko Arakawa taking advantage of a scramble on a rebound in front of the US goal.
Though the United States dominated shots and forced several saves from Miho Fukumoto, Japan had several should-have-been chances that broke down at the last touch. With the US up 2-1 midway through the second, Japan attempted to open up play that left them badly exposed. The US capitalized, setting up a rematch of last year's World Cup semifinal.
The United States advances to play Brazil for the Gold Medal. Brazil beat Germany 4-1 with three goals in the second half in the other semifinal.
-- Game Report --
Match-up: USA vs. Japan
Competition: 2008 Beijing Olympics
Venue: Worker’s Stadium; Beijing, China
Date: August 18, 2008; Kickoff – 9 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET
Attendance: 50,137
Weather: Clear – 77 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 2 4
JPN 1 1 2
JPN – Shinobu Ohno (Yukari Kinga) 16th minute.
USA – Angela Hucles (Heather O’Reilly) 41.
USA – Lori Chalupny (Amy Rodriguez) 44.
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Heather Mitts) 70.
USA – Angela Hucles (Heather O’Reilly) 80.
JPN – Eriko Arakawa (Yuki Nagasato) 94+.
Lineups:
USA: 18-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts (14-Stephanie Cox, 86), 15-Kate Markgraf, 3-Christie Rampone – Capt., 17-Lori Chalupny; 9-Heather O’Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 5-Lindsay Tarpley (6-Natasha Kai, 67); 8-Amy Rodriguez (12-Lauren Cheney, 83), 16-Angela Hucles
Subs: 4-Rachel Buehler, 10-Aly Wagner, 13-Tobin Heath, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head Coach: Pia Sundhage
JPN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Hiromi Ikeda, 4-Azusa Iwashimizu, 7-Kozue Ando (13-Ayumi Hara, 56), 14-Kyoko Yano (12-Karina Maruyama, 73); 8-Aya Miyama, 10-Homare Sawa, 15-Mizuho Sakaguchi; 11-Shinobu Ohno (9-Eriko Arakawa, 71), 17-Yuki Nagasato
Subs: 18-Ayumi Kaihori, 16-Rumi Utsugi, 5-Miyuki Yanagita, 6-Tomoe Kato
Head Coach: Norio Sasaki
Statistical Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 18 / 10
Shots on Goal: 10 / 6
Saves: 4 / 6
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Fouls: 12 / 5
Offside: 1 / 5
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Heather O’Reilly (caution) 39th minute.
USA – Heather Mitts (caution) 50.
Officials
Referee: Nicole Petignat (SUI)
Asst. Referee: Cristini Cini (ITA)
Asst. Referee: Karine Vives Solana (FRA)
4th Official: Pannipar Kamnueng (THA)
Game Report courtesy of US Soccer Communications
