London 2012 Soccer: U.S. Women Must Come Home with Gold

Following the controversial ending to the semifinal women’s soccer match between the United States and Canada on Monday, the Americans can only justify their belonging in the finals with gold. The U.S. will seek redemption in the gold medal match on Thursday against a Japanese team who defeated the Americans in the 2011 World Cup final.

With the U.S. trailing Canada 3-2 in the waning moments of the match, the Americans caught the break of breaks. Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod was whistled for holding the ball too long, a violation seldom called. That resulted in a free kick, which subsequently resulted to another controversial call, a handball in the box on Canada, leading to a penalty kick. Abby Wambach blasted home the PK to knot the score at 3-3.

As time dwindled in the extra time period with both teams preparing for a shootout, Alex Morgan provided the heroics for the U.S. A Heather O’Reilly cross into the box found Morgan, who headed the ball past McLeod, giving the Americans a dramatic 4-3 victory.

“We feel like it was taken away from us,” Canada forward Christine Sinclair said. “It’s a shame in a game like that, which is so important, that the ref decided the result before the game started,”  according to a report from Associated Press.

Sinclair’s sentiments were felt from the entire Canadian squad that referee Christiana Pedersen robbed them of the game. The six-second holding the ball violation is one that is rarely called and considering the moment of the game it was excessive. To follow up with the handball, another ambiguous judgment call, it’s hard to disregard Canada’s disposition.

With the benefit of the fortunate whistles giving the Americans a chance to win the game and advance, they must now prove that Canada's dismay wasn't all for nothing. Entering the Olympic tournament as the favorites for gold, the U.S. must finish the job to at the very least, quell the criticism.

A silver medal could never be more disappointing.