Team USA is winning the hearts and minds of the American public at the Women's World Cup in Germany. The Americans, after a disappointing loss to Sweden in pool play came up with a stunning win over Brazil in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Team USA was outplayed much of the match by Brazil, but Abby Wambach scored off a header in the final seconds of extra time to tie the game and force penalty kicks. The Americans would go onto to beat Brazil to advance to the semifinals.
WNY Flash defender Whitney Engen, a member of Team USA who didn't make the World Cup squad, told 2 on Your Side's Ben Hayes that Wambach's goal was the best she's ever seen. "It has to go to the top it was a fantastic finish, it was clinical. Abby Wambach is a huge player and she comes up when she's needed and I think she did just that, it has to do with the resiliency of the US team that can't stop belief that they will fight to the very end and they did."
There are seven Flash players representing five different countries in the Women's World Cup.
Engen says Team USA did what they needed in order to win and advance against Brazil. "The U.S. went into this tournament ranked number one, at the end of the day you have to beat the best team in order to be the best,. I think the game went as best as it could. They posted the result and two more games and they're World Cup Champions."
Up next Team USA will face France in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.
Engen and the Flash are back in action Sunday night against Sky Blue in New Jersey. Engen is excited to have her World Cup teammates rejoin the Flash for the final month of the season. "I think that the really cool thing is the fact that is that this is in peoples back yards. Games like the US-Brazil, you can watch that here. You can watch those games live in person."
WGRZ