The United States survived a pair of Hope Solo errors to secure top spot in Olympic Group G following an unexpected 2-2 draw with Colombia in Manaus.
Needing only a point to earn first place after wins against New Zealand and France, the tournament favorites surprisingly fell behind as Catalina Usme’s dipping, 25-yard free kick squirmed between an unsighted Solo’s legs in the 25th minute.
A Crystal Dunn equalizer five minutes before the break and a fine finish from teenage substitute Mallory Pugh on the hour mark gave the US the lead before, Usme smashed home a 90th minute set-piece with Solo missing an attempt to punch clear.
Depending on results elsewhere, the defending champions will now play Australia (who thumped Zimbabwe 6-1 earlier on Tuesday), China or Sweden in the knockout stages in Brasilia on Friday.
Despite the late disappointment, the US will be buoyed by the return of Megan Rapinoe, making her first appearance since tearing an ACL in December. Rapinoe, who hadn’t played in 249 days, was lively during 32-minute run-out, before she was replaced Pugh in a scheduled switch.
Coach Jill Ellis, who made four changes from the side that sealed a last eight spot against the French, will be delighted Rapinoe emerged unscathed. The veteran’s ability from set-pieces is sure to add another dimension to the attack with tougher challenges ahead.
The skillful playmaker, who had also been struggling with a calf injury since returning to training, almost made an instant impact, whipping in a delightful cross for Carli Lloyd to head against the post, albeit from an offside position.
Rapinoe curled over a free kick on nine minutes, before laying on a decent chance for Christen Press, who blazed over from a good position. Her teasing cross on 15 minutes almost fell for Lloyd, who moments later was denied a possible spot-kick after going down on the edge of the box.
Perhaps a little rusty after the long layoff, Rapinoe’s last action of the night was a mistimed lunge to concede the set-piece converted by Usme, as Solo struggled to see past the wall. The error only served to encourage the Brazilian crowd, gradually more populous ahead of the home nation’s tie against South Africa, who once again continually taunted Solo with chants of “Zika!”. The US No1, who turned in a fine display with five crucial saves against France had been a mere onlooker until that point.
Amazingly, this was Colombia’s first ever goal against the USA, having entered Tuesday’s game with a 0-18 aggregate score in five previous fixtures between the two sides, including 7-0 and 3-0 hammerings in April friendlies.
The unscheduled set-back seemed to briefly rattle the defending champions, who should have levelled on 39 minutes when Press failed to nudge the ball past the onrushing Sandra Sepulveda after latching onto a long clearance. However, parity was restored four minutes before the break. Dunn pounced to slot home the rebound after the busy Colombian keeper pushed a powerful Lloyd drive onto the crossbar.
Lloyd was replaced by regular strike-partner Alex Morgan at half time as the States began the second half in dominant fashion. Morgan forced another fine save from Sepulveda with a curling effort, moments before 18-year-old substitute Pugh buried the ball from 10-yards after cutting inside the Colombian rear guard.
The World Cup winners should have made the game safe soon after, when Press attempted to lay on a tap-in for Pugh who was clearly offside. However, with the US team seemingly tiring in the 90F heat, Usme once again beat Solo with a free-kick, this time her 30-yard effort smashed against the top of the crossbar with 15 minutes left.
It was a warning. Ellis’ side looked sure to see out time until Usme struck again in the 90th minute smashing a powerful, curling free-kick into the top corner, ensuring a nervous three minutes of stoppage time.
A further set-back would have seen the French, who saw off New Zealand 3-0 in their final group game, supplant the US as group winners. However, they held on and, barring an unexpected set-back on Friday, look destined for a semi-final showdown against hosts Brazil at the famous Maracanã Stadium.
“I’m choosing to have short-term memory and put this behind us,” Solo said after the final whistle. “Every tournament I’ve ever played in, nothing has gone perfectly.
“We’re ready [for the knockout stages], I guarantee it,” she added.
The US will hope Solo, seemingly unaffected by the taunts of the crowd and flawless against France, has the errors out of her system without serious consequence.
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