Team USA made waves in women's soccer and women's basketball on Friday as they bolstered their gold medal bids in those events here in the Tokyo Olympics.
The Americans advanced to the semifinals of the women's soccer competition after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands, while its women's basketball team remained unbeaten in the preliminary round after defeating host nation Japan.
Naeher, the hero for Team USA in the quarterfinals
Alyssa Naeher was the hero for the US Women's National Team (USWNT) in the quarterfinals as she saved a total of three penalties in the win against the Netherlands. The 33-year-old kept Team USA in the match with a penalty save in the 81st minute of regulation that prevented the Netherlands from going up 3-2.
She stepped up big time again once the match went into the dreaded penalty shootout, saving not only Vivianne Miedema's opening spot kick but also defender Aniek Nouwen's penalty attempt to seal the win for the United States. Naeher's performance against the Netherlands has now silenced the doubters as she finally delivered the signature game of her USWNT career.
It wasn't smooth sailing for Team USA as the Netherlands opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a goal by Miedema, who exits the Tokyo Olympics as the tournament's leading scorer. The Americans battled back strongly, though, scoring twice in three minutes to take a 2-1 lead in the first half.
Samantha Mewis scored her first-ever Olympic goal with a diving header in the 28th minute before Lynn Wiliams gave USWNT the advantage with a thumping effort from 12 yards out in the 31st minute. Miedema equalized, however, for the Netherlands with her second goal of the night in the 54th minute setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
The game's turning point occurred in the 80th minute when the Dutch were awarded a penalty after Kelley O'Hara fouled one of their players inside the box. Miedema, one goal away from the hat trick, did not take the ensuing penalty, with Lieke Martens doing the honors. That decision backfired as Martens missed what would have been the game-winning penalty for the Dutch.
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Team USA extends Olympic winning streak to 51 games in women's basketball
Team USA extended its winning streak in the women's basketball event in the Olympics to 51 matches with an 86-69 victory over Japan on Friday. Leading the Americans in this victory were A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who scored 20 and 15 points, respectively.
For the second game running, the Americans had trouble putting away the opposition, with the Japanese even taking a 30-28 lead after the first quarter thanks to their red-hot outside shooting.
Team USA clamped down defensively in the second quarter, finishing the opening half with a 13-4 run to enter the break with a 49-40 lead. Wilson, Stewart, and Brittany Griner made sure the Americans will coast to victory in the second half as the trio combined for 50 points and 28 rebounds in the contest.
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