The USWNT has not exactly been winning new fans at the Women’s World Cup, but its defensive approach is paying off.
“If they don’t score, we can’t lose,” defender Becky Sauerbrunn said after Friday’s 1-0 win over China, which set up a semifinal clash with title favorite Germany.
The Germans are the tournament’s top scorers, with 20 goals from five games in Canada, but the Americans have dominated defensively — conceding just once, in the opening match.
U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo has not been beaten in 423 minutes, while China managed just two shots on target at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Stadium.
“We’re very proud of that, and of course it’s something we defenders can be particularly happy with,” said Sauerbrunn, who has played every minute of the tournament so far.
“Although offensive play is important, it’s defending that gets you titles. Even when matches don’t work out the way you planned, you’ve always got to stay strong in defense; it’s a matter of willpower and intelligence,” added the 30-year-old.
Carli Lloyd’s 53rd-minute header against China was just the seventh goal the team has scored, as the midfielder celebrated becoming the ninth U.S. player to make 200 international appearances.
The U.S. became the first team to reach the semifinals of all seven World Cups.
Sauerbrunn, meanwhile, recalled watching the USWNT beat China in the 1999 World Cup final as a 14-year-old — the last time the Americans won the title.
She will now turn her attentions to Tuesday’s opening semifinal in Montreal, where the 2011 runner-up will take on a Germany side that progressed by beating France in a penalty shootout after Friday’s first last-eight clash ended 1-1.
“They’re a great team; we’ll give it our best and I can’t wait to get started,” Sauerbrunn said.
Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was Germany’s hero after continuing her remarkable record of penalty saves.
Angerer, who plays for U.S. club Portland Thorns, made the only block of the shootout as her team triumphed 5-4.
The 36-year-old also denied Brazil in Germany’s 2007 World Cup final victory, and saved two normal-time penalties against Norway in the final of Euro 2013.
“We all know what she’s capable of. She gives you that little bit of extra confidence,” Germany striker Dzsenifer Marozsan said after the France game.
In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Australia takes on defending champion Japan before England plays host nation Canada.
