American gets the victory on water polo
Aug 21st, 2008 by rich
BEIJING — U.S.A. Captain Brenda Villa skipped home the game-winning goal with one minute remaining to give the U.S.A. water polo team a spot in Thursday’s gold medal game.
The United States squandered a three-goal fourth quarter lead and then hung on to win, 9-8. Along the way, they helped exorcise some of the ghosts of Olympics past. They’ll face the Netherlands in the gold medal match after the Dutch beat Hungary, 8-7, in the second semi-final on Tuesday.
“I’m speechless,” said U.S.A. attacker Patty Cardenas. “Who wouldn’t want to play for a gold medal? Our fans are great, our team mates are great, our coaches. I can’t describe it. It’s a dream come true.”
For the Americans, the victory erases some bad memories that have been lurking in the pool from the past two Olympics. In Sydney in 2000 the Australians beat the Americans on a controversial goal with 1.2 seconds remaining. (”I’m still going to therapy over Sydney,” said U.S.A. Coach Guy Baker.) In Athens in 2004 the Americans had a two-goal lead going into the fourth quarter only to lose to Italy with two seconds left.
“I was kind of having deja vu,” Villa said.
But instead of heartbreak, the American women are on the doorstep of history. They held on after Villa’s game winner when goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong, who finished with eight saves, stopped a shot at the final horn.
“It was thrilling and definitely exciting,” Armstrong said. “We’ve been in situations like that and you draw on what you’re supposed to do.”
And now the Americans, who are ranked No. 1 in the world, have a chance to do what they’re supposed to — take home their first-ever gold medal.