Women's World Cup: USA Obtains Victory Over Brazil Despite Poor Refereeing

Twelve years to the day that the United States Women's World Cup team had one of the most memorable sports moment in sports history, the US team provided yet another great sports moment in Dresden, Germany.

The matchup between Brazil and the United States pitted two of the world's top women's soccer teams.  The United States came into the World Cup as the No. 1 team in the world but looked far from it leading into the match against the Brazilians. 

In their last match, the US women gave away a clear shot to not face the Brazilians with a 2-1 loss to Sweden in group play.

In a matchup that was more fitting a World Cup final then a quarterfinal round, the match gave all in attendance and watching around the world the best match of the tournament thus far.

The match started early in the American's favor with an own goal off of Brazilian sweeper Daiane.  The US defense kept the Brazilians far from their own net for the first 20 minutes of the first half, but then the speed and skill finally caught wind. 

The Brazilians started peppering Hope Solo but could never push the ball past their nemesis without a miracle. 

Sadly, that miracle came in the form of Australian referee Jacqui Melksham and the rest of her assistants. 

After going into halftime with a 1-0 lead, the momentum started to shift toward the Samba Queens.  However, their miracle came on a 50-50 ball in the box between Brazilian forward Marta and American defender Rachel Buehler.  

Both Buehler and Marta were both shoving each other to retrieve a 50-50 ball that Marta had flicked over Buehler.  Buehler slid a split second before Marta and was called for a foul in the penalty box. 

To Melksham's credit, it could have been called a foul by any referee, but it's what happens afterward that will place her in infamy.

Melksham produced a red card against Buehler.  I am sorry, but the action on the field did not deserve a red card.  At most it could have warranted a yellow, but even then, ESPN analyst Tony DiCicco said later that it was no where close to a foul at all.

The red card was just the start of the ugliness as after Hope Solo stopped striker Cristiane on the penalty kick, Brazil was awarded a second chance as according to the side judge because Solo was perceived to have moved forward before the kick. 

Though no replay shows Solo moving off her line before Cristiane's strike.  Marta put the second attempt away drawing the score even at 1-1. 

From this point forward, a Dresden crowd that was bi-partisan before was definitely in favor of the Americans. 

Every time that Marta touched the ball, she was booed.  The Brazilians had become the personification of evil to the crowd.  Any call against the Americans was jeered by the crowd.  One could perceive that the match moved from Germany to America. 

The awful refereeing continued against the American's despite attempts by the US to get back on top in the match.  A blatant handball late was called from Melksham even though play was directly in front of an assistant. 

The poor refereeing continued into the extra time as the second Brazilian goal by Marta in the 92nd minute should have been ruled null because of a missed offside call. The Americans basically played the last 60 minutes not just down a person but in a 10 on 14 match.

Even with the odds stacked against them, the American women still continued to fight back.  With the Brazilians trying to stall in the second half of extra time, the US finally caught the break they so desperately needed. 

After three minutes were added to extra time because of stalling tactics from Brazilian defender Erika, substitute Megan Rapinoe sent a beautiful cross from the far side to forward Abby Wambach who heading it into the back of the net at the 122nd minute to tie the game at two.  

Rapinoe put in an awesome cross to Wambach.  There was only one person that could have gotten the cross, and that was Wambach. 

This is the latest goal in World Cup history.  With the goal, the Americans kept hope alive that they would not be exiting in the quarterfinals for the first time in history.

In the penalty kicks, finally the Americans showed that they are the No. 1 team in the world. 

After Shannon Boxx's first penalty kick was blocked by Brazilian goalkeeper Andreia, she was called for coming of her line, and Boxx did not miss her second attempt. 

The penalties were tied 2-2 after Christiane and Marta made their penalties without so much as an attempt from Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd put hers away as well. 

The least confident Brazilian was Daiane, who took the third penalty kick for them.  In the only stop in the penalties, Solo made the right move and blocked the Daiana's shot with ease.

After the save, Wambach, Francielle and Rapinoe put away their penalty kicks to set the stage for Ali Krieger who played the past four years in the German league. 

Krieger put the shot away with ease sending the Americans to the semifinals of the World Cup in improbable fashion after the Buehler red card and the subsequent goals by Brazil. 

The victory is continued validation for an American side that was embarrassed last World Cup by the Brazilians in a 4-0 drubbing. 

According to reports during the post match, both clubs shared team hotels in 2007, and the Brazilians were rubbing the victory in the faces of the Americans.  Believe me in saying that the Americans present did not forget, and this was the retribution for the US.

In what has turned into a shocking Women's World Cup, only the United States is in the semifinals after favored Germany was ousted last night by Japan and the US victory over Brazil. 

Now the US goes into a semifinal matchup against upstart France in what could be another great match as the French have looked great during the tournament. 

Here's to the United States women and the hope that the magic continues against France in the semifinal.