Sports
Team USA Loses World Cup Final To Japan; Morgan Scores Goal, Assist
UPDATE: Japan beats USA, on penalty kicks (3-1). Alex Morgan scored the first goal of the game for either team in the 68th minute. Her pass to Abby Wambach in the first OT gives U.S. short-lived 2-1 lead.
UPDATE: Team USA loses to Japan 2-2 (3-1) in penalty kicks.
Japan once again comes back after the USA scores to tie the score, 2-2, in the second overtime period.
The U.S. scored the go-ahead goal on Alex Morgan's dead-on pass from the left side. Her pass found Abby Wambach, who scored for Team USA in the World Cup Finals.
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Morgan scored the first goal of the game Sunday in the World Cup Finals. The youngest on the team at 22, Morgan is playing in her first World Cup.
After Morgan's goal gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead, Japan fought back and tied the score, 1-1 in the 80th minute.
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Morgan, who took a midfield pass from midfielder Megan Rapinoe, scored in the 68th minute against Japan.
Rapinoe took the ball from the front of Japan's net and dribbled just past midfield. She passed up to Morgan on the left side, and Morgan, with a one-on-one stepped up from the left side and drilled the ball into the right corner for the score.
Morgan enters the game at halftime, replacing injured forward Lauren Cheney. Cheney injured her ankle in the early minutes of the game.
City officials said they were pleased to hear Diamond Bar in the news for something other than traffic jams.
"It is wonderful to see Alex (Morgan) bring international attention to Diamond Bar," Mayor Steve Tye said.
Morgan, who is Team USA's youngest player at 22 and a Diamond Bar native, made headlines after against France in a World Cup semi-final game Wednesday and scored another in the 69th minute of the finals against Japan Sunday.
City officials and fans joined together Sunday for a at Chili's Sunday morning.
Mayor Pro Tem Ling-Ling Chang said she was pleased that Morgan, a Diamond Bar High graduate, was bringing recognition to her alma mater.
"As a fellow DBHS alumnus, I am filled with pride as Alex represents not only Diamond Bar, but Diamond Bar High School in the national spotlight," Chang said.
Stacy Stezlriede, a parent of a current Diamond Bar High varsity soccer player, commented on Diamond Bar Patch's Facebook page that Morgan was "a joy to watch."
Chang also said she was happy that Morgan and Team USA are serving as a positive role for young girls — especially those with soccer aspirations — worldwide.
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