Lloyd of Cary

Despite the terrible conditions on Sunday night in Cary, N.C., the U.S. and Australia put on quite a show, which is a credit to both teams. The match was chock full of good scoring chances, mostly by the U.S. team but certainly a few from Australia, and filled with tough tackles, great saves and high-paced play. With five minutes to go, everyone in the stadium surely thought the game would end 2-0 to the USA...except apparently Australia. Even when Kate Gill skillfully looped her header into the U.S. net from almost on the end line, it still seemed that the USA would come away with the 2-1 win. Then came the penalty kick. Now, is it a penalty when a defender runs down a forward in the penalty box, blocks her cross as she is sliding, then it hits the forward in the leg and instantly bounces into the arm of the defender while she is still on the ground sliding with her arm by her side? Apparently it is. Hope Solo came up with fantastic stop on the penalty kick before Cheryl Salisbury headed home her own rebound, but that just set the stage for one of the best endings to a WNT game since July 15, 2006, in Blaine, Minn., when Kristine Lilly scored in the 92nd minute against Sweden after they had tied the match 2-2 in the 91st minute. Oh yeah, that was right after Cat Whitehill scored in a 89th on free-kick from 70 yards away to give the USA the 2-1 lead. Yeah, that was a great game. So was the one in Cary. Hopefully, this weekend's game will be just as entertaining, but maybe we'll pass on the dramatic ending for a more run of the mill "W."