What a crazy tournament it has been for the US Women, and even for all of Group G. While the USA got off to a bad start losing to Norway 1-0 in their first match, they have managed to come out on top of their group after Japan defeated Norway 5-1, putting Norway in 2nd place in the group. The US finished group play with 6 points as well as Noway, but the US had a better goal differential.

The US advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating New Zealand 4-0. Heather O'Reilly got the scoring started just 40 seconds into the game, making it the fastest goal in Women's Olympic History. New Zealand's keeper cleared the ball into the midfield and Carli Lloyd won the header. The ball bounced towards O'Reilly who noticed the keeper was off her line and took a shot form 23 yards out. The ball sailed into the right corner.

The next goal came late in the 2nd half. US defender Rachel Buehler played a long pass to Amy Rodriguez. Using her speed she got in behind the defense and took a left-footed strike that skipped past Jenny Bindon, (New Zealand's keeper) into the lower right corner.

The third goal was scored in the 57th minute. Rodriguez faced the keeper one-on-one in the area, but Bindon came off her line and reacted quickly to save the ball. The rebound bounced into the middle of the area where O'Reilly got a toe on it but the Kiwi defense deflected it. Lindsay Tarpley reacted quick to it and volleyed into the right corner for her 11th goal this year.

Angela Hucles closed the scoring just four minutes later. Lori Chalupny ran down the left flank and got around a defender and blasted a shot that hit the crossbar. The ball fell right to Hucles who was able to shoot the ball through Bindon's hands.

This win put the USA at the top of their group. They advanced to the quarterfinals along with Canada and Japan.

The US then played Canada in the quarterfinals. An early goal in the 12th minute gave the US the lead. The goal started off from a long pass from Christie Rampone to Hucles. The ball was played to O'Reilly, Tarpley, and Carli Lloyd, who switched the ball to Rodriguez on the right who crossed a perfect ball to O'Reilly. She headed the ball down to Canada's Erin McLeod who got her fingertips on the ball. Hucles was at the back post to put the ball into the the goal. 10 minutes after the goal, the game was stopped at the 21st minute and delayed for 1 hour and 39 minutes thanks to all the lightning, thunder, and rain. Both teams came back out and had 15 minutes to warm up. The match was started where it left off with a throw in by Canada.

The equalizer came in the 30th minute as the US failed to control a throw-in in their own third. Clare Rustad tackled the ball away from Lloyd, which went into Cristine Sinclair's path. She shot a rocket into the top right corner that just got past US keeper Hope Solo.

Canada went into a defending style of play, while the US played the possession style that head coach Pia Sundhage has been asking for. Their patience got them a lot of scoring chances, but none were finished off. The game went into extra time. Natasha Kai was subbed in for O'Reilly to play for 30 minutes. The US kept pressing and pressing the Canadian defense. In the 101st minute, Rodriguez played the ball back to Shannon Boxx who took a left-footed cross into area. Kai scored the game-winning goal on a diving header. It was the perfect ending for the US, and a heart-breaking one for the Canadians who were trying to go for a medal in their first-ever Olympic appearance.

This match marked the 200th cap for US captain, Christie Rampone. Forward Lauren Cheney made her Olympic debut in the 109th minute when she subbed in for Amy Rodriguez. In 11 minutes, she managed to take 2 dangerous shots, get a yellow card, and help the US keep possession. Shannon Boxx earned her 100th cap, becoming just the 22nd female player in US history to do so. This match also marked the final game for Canadian head coach Even Pellerud.

In the other quarterfinal action, Japan defeated host China 2-0, Germany defeated Sweden 2-0 with 2 goals in extra time, and Brazil defeated Norway 2-1. The US now looks to move on to the Gold Medal match and defend their gold medal when they face Japan next in the semifinals, while Germany faces Brazil.

The US match will be aired on Monday morning at 9 pm local time, 9 am ET on MSNBC. Brazil faces Germany at 6 pm local time, 6 am ET.

Mano Gil's point of view:

Since that incredible match in the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2007 a lot of expectations surrounds every game between USA and Brazil. Last night's match in San Diego was not different. I mean, the expectations were there but the intensity of the game was not.

One could say "C'mon Mano Gil, it was a friendly match!"

It's true but a friendly match with less than a month to the Football Tournament at the 2008 Olympics should be played with more attacking freedom then. And that simply didn't happen. The poor 1-0 score for the USA gave two main impressions: 1) This new generation of USA players have quality but they lack something that I'm still trying to figure out (I don't want to be unfair to the girls). 2) The team still suffers with high expectations to deliver the same results as the Michelle Akers/Mia Hamm/Julie Foudy Generation.

Tash celebrates her goal against Brazil last night

It could also be the lack of an extremely creative attacking-midfielder that can make the right passes and the right connection with the forwards. Carly Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley are good midfielders and play a very tactical game but I miss some creativity in midfield.

As for Brazil, of course that playing without Daniela, Cristiane and specially Marta makes all the difference. Formiga was killing herself trying to move the team forward. She played every position in midfield last night. And the defense behaved well but without the attacking force to pressure the USA it was just obvious that they would lose the match.

And now the "Abby Wambach case":

With only 32 minutes played in the game Abby rushed to try to reach a ball that was closer to the Brazilian defender. And with the obvious collision she suffered a midshaft oblique fracture on both her tibia and fibula.

In freaking good English it means: SHE BROKE HER LEG AND IS OUT OF THE OLYMPICS!!!

The goal number 100 will have to wait a little longer now

Wambach is an admirable player. She's determined, she's funny and more than that, she scores goals. Until last night she had already scored 99 for the National Team and was eager to get the number 100. I feel very sorry for her injury but it's one of those that I'm sure (because I went through the same a couple years ago), so I'm sure she is going to think "why did I go for that ball, why?"...

Abby will need a 12 week recovery. Good luck girl, come back stronger!

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Alondra's point of view:

The USA played Brazil for their Send-off game in San Diego in front of a sell-out crowd. Everyone was excited for that game, and they did have expectations. They expected Abby Wambach to score her 100th goal. They expected the USA to win and score a lot goals.

It seemed like Abby would get her 100th goal as she had a couple chances early in the first half. The fans were rooting for Abby and her teammates, but soon it all turned into fear.

Wambach, eager to score a goal, went for a 50-50 ball with a Brazilian defender, and came down hard . She instantly waved her hand for attention. They took her away, and it turns out she broke her left tibia and fibula.

Her teammates were worried. Fans were worried. She is one of the best players on the team, and she is very passionate about soccer. She is a big loss for the team.

The US played continued playing a tough first half, and second half. Then when Natasha Kai came in for Lindsay Tarpley, she got the crowd started and brought the energy back up.

In the 85th minute, Carli Lloyd took a free kick, and crossed the ball into the box. Kai got her head on it and scored from 6 yards out. The fans went wild, and she gave them hope. The US ended with a 1-0 win over Brazil.

We all know that Brazil was playing without their star forward, Marta, and without Cristiane and Daniela. It would have been a different game with them on the field. They are very good players. Who knows what the outcome of the game would have been.

As for the USA, they are not doomed. They still have a chance at defending the Gold Medal. Even though they lost Abby Wambach, they still have players that can step up. Natasha Kai prove it, and Amy Rodriguez is a great froward that can cause trouble for any defense. Carli Lloyd can get more into the attack ands hoot from outside the box. Shannon Boxx is great in the air. Defenders Lori Chalupny and Heathr Mitts are key players for the US attack.

It will be harder now for the USA without Wambach, but she doesn't make up the team.

Accidents happen all the time, and the one that she was involved in is no different. She was going for the ball and instead got her leg broken. Hopefully, she'll recover well and soon.

All the US can do now is hope for the best, and play good soccer.

The U.S. Women's soccer team is with no doubts, an example of how much the sport can develop if investments and dedication are put together. That was used as an inspiration by many other countries to create a favorable environment for women's soccer around the world.

Who could ever imagine 10 years, or even 5 years ago, that Costa Rica would become a tough challenge in the USA's path for the 2008 Olympic Games?

Not that the Costa Ricans played beautifully or anything but they worked out as well as they could defensively in order to stop Lindsay Tarpley, Natasha Kai, Carly Lloyd and Abby Wambach. And should we mention the great performance by goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia.

The US Women's Team created inumerous chances to score but most of them ended up blocked by the bunked Costa Rican defense or saved by Tapia.

But in the end the intense attack paid off. In the 58th minute Natasha Kai received a low cross from Tobin Heath - who had replaced Lindsay Tarpley in the beginning of second half - and the Hawaiian smacked it hard into the goal! USA 1, Costa Rica 0

The United Statyes kept their players up, pressuring Costa Rica's defense and at minute 73 Natasha Kai headed a cross from Carly Lloyd, Pricilla Tapia couldn't hold it and the ball found Heather O'Reilly's foot. USA 2, Costa Rica 0.

Only then the Ticas decided to risk some attacking plays forcing Hope Solo to work a little.

And with a little bit more space and the speed of Amy Rodriguez on the field (she came in for Abby Wambach), the USA scored again on added time. Natasha Kai (the name of the game in my opinion) received a pass from Angela Hucles and slammed the ball into the goal.

3-0 the final score. The Costa Ricans showed a lot of improvement but it's the USA that gets their ticket to the 2008 Olympic Games. Now they play again on sunday for the CONCACAF title against the winner of Canada x Mexico.

Beijing, here we go!!!

Let's GO USA!!! Let's win this third Gold Medal!!!