abby wambach « Edmonton Sports Blog

Posts Tagged ‘abby wambach’

Japan wins Women’s World Cup of Soccer

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Homare Sawa (Wikimedia Commons)

In a dramatic championship final, Japan defeated the United States 3-2 in penalty kicks to win the Women’s World Cup of Soccer.

In what is the biggest day in the history of Japanese soccer, Japan got key goals from Golden Boot winner Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama. Sawa also won the Golden Ball Award for the best player in the tournament.

The game had incredible similarities to the American 3-2 quarterfinal win over Brazil in terms of goal sequence and overall drama.

Miyama tied the score originally at one with nine minutes left in regulation time after the Americans had gone up 1-0 earlier in the second half on a brilliant shot by Alex Morgan.

Morgan had come in as a substitute for the injured Lauren Cheney who left the game with a knee injury. Morgan then displayed offensive excellence in overtime in finding Abby Wambach open for the header. Wambach put the Americans up 2-1.

It was a tough game for Wambach overall however, even though she scored an overtime goal. In the first half, she hit the crossbar and she missed another great opportunity to score in the extra thirty minutes.

(more…)

Tags: abby wambach, alex morgan, aya miyama, homare sawa, hope solo, lauren cheney, women's world cup
Posted in Soccer |

United States to play Japan in Women’s World Cup Final

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Abby Wambach (Pat Gunn, Wikimedia Commons)

The United States will play Japan in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup Final from Frankfurt, Germany.

On Wednesday, the United States defeated France 3-1 and Japan defeated Sweden 3-1.

In Moenchengladbach, the Americans got goals from Lauren Cheney, Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan. Wambach scored her twelfth goal in Women’s World Cup history, tying her with American soccer great Michelle Akers for third all time. Birgit Prinz of Germany and Marta of Brazil each have fourteen.

Wambach’s goal was the game winner. It came in the 79th minute on a header from a corner kick by Cheney.

In Frankfurt, Nahomi Kawasumi scored twice as Japan knocked off Sweden 3-1. Japanese captain Homare Sawa scored the other Japanese goal. Sawa now has four goals in the tournament, and is tied with Marta for the goal scoring lead in the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

For Sawa, it was sweet redemption, as she gave the ball earlier in the game right to Swede Josefine Oqvist, who made no mistake in giving the Swedes an early 1-0 lead.

Carole Anne Chenard of Ottawa was the referee.

The Gold medal game takes place Sunday at 12:30pm on CBC.

Tags: abby wambach, alex morgan, anne chenard, birgit prinz, homare sawa, lauren cheney, marta, nahomi kawasumi, women's world cup
Posted in Soccer |

United States win best women’s soccer game ever

Sunday, July 10th, 2011

Hope Solo (John Mena, Wikimedia Commons)

We watch sports to see the unexpected.

On Sunday morning the United States defeated Brazil 3-2 in the best women’s soccer game ever played.

Period.

Leading 1-0 on an own goal scored by Brazil in the opening two minutes, the Americans had the momentum at half time in their quarterfinal matchup in Germany at the Women’s World Cup. Then in the second half, American goaltender Hope Solo made a remarkable save on Cristiane during a penalty kick, but Australian referee Jacqui Melksham ordered that the penalty be retaken because an American had encroached the penalty area before the kick was taken. Marta made no mistake on her attempt and controversially tied the score 1-1.

Then in overtime, Marta scored her fourth of the tournament to put the Brazilians up 2-1. But the Americans tied it up during the extra time of extra time on a brilliant header by Abby Wambach. But remarkably, Wambach would not have had the opportunity to score if it wasn’t for the ridiculous dramatics by Erika who faked a dive in the extra time. It was Erika’s fake dramatics of an injury that never actually existed that gave the Americans an opportunity to tie the score at two.

(more…)

Tags: abby wambach, christine sinclair, hope solo, marta, women's world cup
Posted in Home, Soccer |

Weekend Sports Preview–July 9-10–Women’s World Cup, Toronto Honda Indy, CFL, MLB, U.S. Women’s Open

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Danica Patrick (Bing Images)

Some of the best race car drivers in the world come to Toronto this weekend for the Honda Indy.

American Danica Patrick headlines a solid field that also includes current IndyCar Series point leader Dario Franchitti of Scotland, Indianapolis 500 runner-up Ryan Hunter-Reay of the United States, defending champion Will Power of Australia, and Canadians James Hinchcliffe, Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy.

Remarkably however Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon of England won’t be in Toronto competing, but might be as a commentator. It completely leaves me shaking my head that the winner of IndyCar’s biggest annual race hasn’t been able to find a team to ride for since May 29.

The Toronto Honda Indy will go Sunday at 12pm on TSN.

Here are the other events I’ll be watching this weekend:

(more…)

Tags: abby wambach, alex tagliani, amy anderson, atlanta braves, brandon whitaker, celia okoyino da mbabi, cliff lee, cristiane, dan wheldon, danica patrick, darian durant, dario franchitti, Edmonton Eskimos, fara williams, gaetane thiney, hamilton tiger-cats, homare sawa, inka grings, jair jurrjens, jamal richardson, james hinchcliffe, kerstin garefrekes, kevin chappell, kyah simon, lauren cheney, lisa dahlkvist, lizette salas, marie-laure delie, marta, montreal alouettes, paul tracy, philadelphia phillies, robert garrigus, rosana, ryan hunter-reay, ryann o'toole, Saskatchewan Roughriders, stacy lewis, tommy hanson, toronto honda indy, will power, women's world cup, yani tseng
Posted in CFL, Home, Ladies Professional Golfers Association, MLB, More, Soccer |

Random Friday Thoughts: UFA Season, Tennis Tease, Soccer Fever

Friday, July 1st, 2011

NHL Free Agency

Happy Canada Day!

As always, the birthday of our great nation also signifies the start of free agency in the NHL! Thanks to smartphones and free/stolen wireless internet, it’s now easier than ever to be social and remain glued to your favorite sports sites…but who is going where this year?

The biggest fish in this year’s free agent market is definitely Brad Richards, who is coming off a 77-point season with the Dallas Stars. Richards is a talented playmaking centre who is going to score big money for sure on the open market. There are plenty of teams lining up to make a pitch for the 31 year old, including the Leafs, Rangers and Kings, but it will be interesting to see who is able to land him in the end.

Tomas Vokoun is easily the best available goalie out there this summer, after a 22-win, six-shutout season in Florida. Will he stay with the Panthers? They certainly have the cap space to make a deal, and they need to add over $20-million in salary to reach the cap floor! Adding Brian Campbell could be the first of many big moves this summer for Florida.

As for defencemen, there are a lot of veterans available at the moment, including the likes of Ed Jovanovski and Bryan McCabe. There are some intriguing restricted free agents on defence that could come into play, like Shea Weber and Drew Doughty, but I can’t see Nashville and LA letting these guys get away.

I can’t wait to see how things shake down! (After the jump: Pro tennis player messes with ball boy, Hilarious ESPN “World Cup Fever” commercial and more!) (more…)

Tags: abby wambach, amstel light, brad richards, bryan mccabe, charlie sheen, drew doughty, ed jovanovski, Edmonton, florida panthers, juan martin del potro, LA Kings, nashville predators, NHL, RAFAEL NADAL, ricky vaughn, shea weber, tomas vokoun, women's world cup, yeg
Posted in ATP World Tour, MLB, NHL, Soccer |