U.S. Women’s Soccer Team Advances to Medal Round

The United States women’s soccer team advanced to the Olympic soccer betting semifinals as they defeated Canada 2-1 in extra time on Friday. Natasha Kai headed in the winning goal to propel the Americans into the medal round.

Angela Hucles had scored first for the U.S. in the 12th minute but Canada tied the game in the 30th minute on a goal from Christine Sinclair.

The soccer betting match was suspended for almost 2 hours in the first half due to lightning.

The U.S. women’s soccer team has reached every Olympic final since soccer came into the Olympics and they will try and keep that record intact as they face Japan in the semifinals on Monday. The U.S. team won gold in 1996 in Atlanta and in 2004 in Athens. They finished second to Norway in 2000.

The United States Olympic medal count currently stands at 48 but the women’s soccer team could add one more medal on Monday.

The Olympic soccer betting match against Canada was played in a driving rainstorm in the first half but it didn’t stop the U.S. team. Amy Rodriguez’ cross was headed down by Heather O’Reilly and the rebound came to Hucles who scored in the 12th minute. The teams played for about eight more minutes after the Hucles goal before the match was stopped due to the lightning. The U.S. dominated play but Canada was able to tie the game after Sinclair put a great shot past goalkeeper Hope Solo in the 30th minute. The U.S. should have scored moments later but Hucles missed an easy shot that went wide.

Hucles was stopped again in the second half in the 71st minute when Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made a nice save. The Canadians almost scored in the 79th minute but Solo made a good save on a Sinclair shot.

The U.S. almost scored in injury time but Rodriguez was stopped by LeBlanc. In extra time Shannon Boxx sent in a cross and Kai, who replaced Heather O’Reilly at the start of the first extra period, was able to score the game winner. Substitute Lauren Cheney should have scored to make it 3-1 but missed wide on an easy chance.

The United States will now meet Japan in the Olympic soccer betting semifinals on Monday. Brazil will face the winner of Sweden-Germany in the other semifinal matchup on Monday.