The U.S. moved into the semifinals of the Under-19 Women's World Championship in Thailand with a 2-0 win over Australia Sunday.
Second half goals from Amy Rodriguez and Megan Rapinoe earned the U.S. team a spot in the semifinals against Germany on Wednesday.
Germany's Anja Mittag scored to tie Nigeria at 1-1 with just five minutes left, and Germany won on penalty kicks, 5-4, with Mittag nailing the clinching shot. Brazil fell behind Russia twice before tying the game 2-2 on literally the last kick of the game in the fourth minute of stoppage time as Cristiane scored a header off a corner kick. Brazil then put away an exhausted Russian team with two goals in overtime for the 4-2 win.
Canada, the 2002 U-19 Women's World Championship runner-up crashed out of the tournament, falling 3-1 to China after Canadian goalkeeper Stacey Van Boxmeer was ejected just one minute into the match for a foul in the penalty area. China's Zhang Ying converted the penalty kick and her side never trailed.
China meets Brazil in the other semifinal.
USA-AUSTRALIA SUMMARY:
Nov. 21 in Chiang Mai
USA 2 Australia 0. Goals: Rodriguez 54, Rapinoe 68.
USA — Harris, Holmes, Buehler, Sauerbrunn, Lopez, Gray, Orand, Logterman, Rapinoe, Rostedt (Woznuk, 46; Krzysik, 76), Rodriguez.
Australia — Logue, Cooper, Carroll, Davison, Beaumont, Somi (Colthorpe, 70), Shipard, McCallum, Blayney (Ledbrook, 58), Kuralay, Khamis (Cannuli, 78).
Referee: Mayumi Oiwa (Japan).
Att.: 8,280.