The U.S. swept into the semifinals of the women’s soccer tournament Friday night with a 2-1 victory over Japan.
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The key was a legitimate but controversial winning goal by Abby Wambach in the 59th minute. It came off a free kick by Mia Hamm, who sent the ball in from the left flank.
The Japanese defenders moved forward on the kick to try to catch the Americans offside, and Kristine Lilly, Julie Foudy and Wambach all were caught by the maneuver. But midfielder Shannon Boxx timed her run better, controlling Hamm’s free kick in front of Japanese goalkeeper Nozomi Yamago. Boxx then passed back to Wambach, who ran it into the empty net.
According to FIFA’s new interpretation of the offside rule, players who are in a passive position and not interfering with the play–in this case Lilly, Foudy and Wambach–should not be ruled offside.
The rule was applied, the goal stood and the Americans advanced to Monday’s semifinal against Germany, which edged Nigeria 2-1.
Even the U.S. coaches and players were a bit surprised by the way they scored the second goal.
“Offside is a gray area,” U.S. coach April Heinrichs said.
“We had like four people who could have scored, which is unheard of,” said goalkeeper Briana Scurry.
“I said, `What are we all doing up here? There’s no [white jerseys] and there’s a lot of us,'” Foudy said. “I was like, `Whoa!'”
Explained Wambach: “[Boxx] stayed onside and she put all of us back onside. It was just a matter of her looking up and having that composure. She’s the reason why we won this game.”
Japan coach Eiji Ueda said: “It was my responsibility. The players did their best.”
Lilly scored the Americans’ first goal. It was her 97th goal in 280 international games and her second of the Olympics.
The surprise inclusion of defender Brandi Chastain in the U.S. starting lineup after she had not played a minute in the previous three games took second place to the bizarre circumstances surrounding the Americans’ second goal.