The chills came a day later, when they saw Megan Rapinoe‘s crossing pass and Abby Wambach‘s header and Hope Solo‘s saves and Ali Krieger‘s clinching shootout goal. Those who watched it live wanted to relive it again and again. Those who did not digested highlights.
They understood this for what it was: an incredible moment in U.S. sports, not just soccer. Just like Landon Donovan’s goal vs. Algeria last year. But two things come to mind: For Wambach’s goal and Krieger’s clincher to mean a whole lot, the women must do what the men could not. They must win. And please don’t make Sunday’s win over Brazil into something it wasn’t: a momentum builder for soccer in this country (as Solo suggested). It wasn’t. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It was a moment. Don’t try to wonder whether it will lead to anything other than a good memory.
