Raw speed.
That’s what Nigeria threw at the U.S. women’s soccer team Wednesday. That and a propensity for crunching tackles that frequently left American players sprawled on the ground, clutching knees, shins and ankles in pain.
It didn’t make any difference, though. The defending gold medalist U.S. team continued its march toward the championship game by defeating Nigeria 3-1 to earn a place in the semifinals.
Next up is Brazil, on Sunday in Canberra.
The other semifinal will be an all-European affair pitting Germany against Norway, which beat China 2-1.
In the “group of death,” the current and former world champions–the U.S. and Norway–have survived and the Asian and African challengers have failed, but the Nigerians made the Americans earn their passage through to the final four.
“The way that they play and the style that they play can be unsettling to anybody,” said U.S. coach April Heinrichs. “From where we’re sitting, it seems like there’s time and space, that we could possess the ball better.
“But none of us [on the bench] are under the pressure of having our legs ripped off at any minute. That sort of pressure is real, and it’s unnerving to play against that.”
Goals by Brandi Chastain in the 26th minute, Kristine Lilly in the 35th and Shannon MacMillan in the 56th countered the 48th-minute goal by Nigeria’s Mercy Akide.
But the physical nature of the game was the focus of postgame conversation.
“I think the thing that we have to be careful of in the women’s game is that we don’t follow the path of the men’s game, with negative soccer and vicious tackles and tackles from behind,” Heinrichs said.
The Nigerian players were not dirty, but they were enthusiastic. Defender Joy Fawcett attested to that.
“They’re just fearless,” she said. “You know they’re coming and they’re running full bore at you and they’re just going to go through you.
“They don’t mean you harm. They’re always sorry.”
Forward Tiffeny Milbrett was the most seriously shaken of the U.S. players after a hard collision with Nigerian goalkeeper Anna Chiejine as both were going for a loose ball in the air.
Chiejine’s cleat caught Milbrett on the right arm and she crumpled to the ground, turning pale with pain, according to teammate Nikki Serlenga.
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“`It’s not broken or anything, I think,” said Milbrett, her wrist taped and packed in ice. “It’s just a massive impact bruise.
“The toll of these three games has been incredible. You can always say you’re preparing yourself for Olympic matches, but there’s no way you can prepare completely for them because they’re so intense.”
After six games, the U.S. men’s and women’s teams remain undefeated at the Sydney Olympics, with a combined 3-0-3 record.