Americans Fight Back For A Draw

(Soccer365.com) The United States women's national team fought back from a one goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against North Korea in a rain soaked World Cup opener at Chengdu Sports Center Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in China.

After a scoreless first half, the U.S. took the early advantage despite the fact that North Korea had the better run of play for most of the match. Kristine Lilly started the scoring attack in the 50th minute dribbling straight at the Korean defense, and once she had drawn two defenders beautifully slotted the ball back to an unmarked Wambach at the top of the box.

Wambach calmly settled the ball before knocking her shot past the North Korean goalkeeper, who did well to get a piece of the ball but to no avail.

With a hard fought one goal advantage in hand it appeared the U.S. might be ready to shake off first game jitters and put the game away but any hope of that changed when Wambach was forced off the field due to a cut on her forehead suffered while challenging for a ball from a Korean corner kick.

While Wambach was receiving treatment, the Koreans blasted in two goals to grab the lead.

In the 58th minute, Son Hui Kil shot directly at Hope Solo but the ball slipped through the hands of the U.S. goalkeeper and into the net. A visible frustrated Solo was left with nothing to do but slam her hands against her side.

Four minutes later in the 62nd minute, Yong Ae Kim gave the Asian side the unexpected lead when she blasted home a poorly cleared ball past a helpless Solo.

The Red, White and Blue held true and grabbed the equalizer in the 69th minute. This time the U.S. was on the good end of a poor clearance. A Korean defender tried to clear a Lilly cross only for it to hit off another defender at the top of the box and allow Heather O'Reilly to hit a one time shot with the outside of her right foot and inside the far post.

After carelessly allowing the first goal for Korea, Solo came up big in injury time making a diving save in the 3rd minute to preserve the win.

The challenge will not get any easier as the U.S. will next face the #3 team in the world, Sweden.

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