Megan Rapinoe converted the deciding penalty in a shootout and the United States advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s Olympic football tournament 4-2 following a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Friday.
United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Vivianne Meidema’s opening attempt in the shootout. She then saved a shot from Aniek Nouwen before Rapinoe put her penalty away. It was Naeher’s third penalty save of the match after she had stopped Lieke Martens’s effort in the 81st minute, which would have given the Dutch a 3-2 lead.
After Rapinoe scored, she turned to her teammates, folded her arms and grinned in triumph.
Meidema scored a pair of goals in the first 90 minutes for the Netherlands, giving her 10 goals for the tournament an Olympic record. Miedema put the Netherlands ahead in the 18th minute but the Americans equalized when Sam Mewis headed in a goal off a feed from Lynn Williams in the 28th. Williams then gave the Americans the lead in the 31st. Meidema, who was playing in her 100th game for the Netherlands, made it 2-2 in the 54th.
The United States will next face Canada, who advanced to the semi-finals 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw with Brazil in Rifu.
Full report to follow …