USA World Cup Win Trumps Derek Jeter's 3,000th Hit as Weekend's Sports Story

New York Yankee Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit may have permeated yesterday's sports new here in the United States, however, the story that dominated this weekend's international sports news was the USA Women's improbable World Cup victory over a favored Brazilian squad while playing a man down for most of the match.
 
In the United States, the Yankee captain comported himself with his usual grace and greatness as he surpassed the 3,000-hit milestone in stellar fashion, going 5-for-5 and knocking in the game's winning run against a pesky Tampa Bay Rays team.
 
While in Germany, the underdog Lady Yanks demonstrated true grit and gumption with an unexpected come-from-behind victory against the world's best player in Marta and her highly skilled and athletically gifted Brazilian teammates.
 
The USA's quarterfinal World Cup win over bitter-rival Brazil boasted a bevy of inexplicable calls and unlikely scenarios. The Lady Yanks got lucky in the opening minutes when Brazilian defender Daiane inadvertently deflected a clearing kick into her own goal, putting the US ahead 1-0.

Subsequently, the Brazilians equalized in the second half thanks in part to a couple of questionable calls from Australian referee Jacqui Melksham. In addition to surprisingly ejecting US defender Rachel Buehler for purportedly fouling Marta in the penalty box, Melksham exacerbated her initial controversial call by awarding a re-kick on a missed Brazilian penalty kick thwarted by US goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Following Marta's conversion of the the penalty re-take, the Brazilians then proceeded to take the lead in the first overtime period on a brilliant, deft touch by Marta, the reigning five-time player of the year. Not expected to rebound from Marta's exasperating score, the USA's unrelenting attack, coupled with its surprising late-game stamina, led to a last-minute equalizer to force a penalty kick shootout.

Sure, American baseball fans, and even Boston Red Sox faithful, will respect Derek Jeter's greatness on the baseball diamond—even though they will not always remember all of the Yankee great's 3,000 hits.

However, international sports fans will likewise applaud the USA team's valiant comeback, but they will never forget Abby Wambach's incomprehensible tying header in the 122nd minute of yesterday's contest.

Not to minimize Jeter's remarkable achievement on the baseball field, but the USA Women's stunning victory on the soccer pitch was this certainly past weekend's most dominant story.

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