SPORTS INSIDER – USA gets one point, ties Portugal; Tiger Woods is back!
Ceci Ferrara
June 23, 2014
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
Down 1-0 after a disheartening first half, soccer Team USA came back in a big way in the second. During the 64th minute of play, Jermaine Jones scored the first goal of the night for the U.S. It tied the game and swung momentum in their favor. In the 81st minute, Clint Dempsey, team captain, used his chest to knock in the go-ahead point. Crowds all over America, from Bryant Park to Kansas City, erupted in glee.
America seemed poised to advance to the knockout round after two games for the first time ever. After 90 minutes of regulation, the referees tacked on five minutes; most of which the U.S. dominated. With less than 30 seconds left, Michael Bradley, the 26-year-old midfielder, whose father coached the team in the 2010 World Cup, lost the ball. It quickly found its way up-field, where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, widely regarded as the sport’s best player, kicked a perfect pass to teammate Silvestre Varela, who knocked it in for the equalizer.
The final whistle blew and goalie Tim Howard clasped his head in disbelief. American fans stared in stunned silence. Instead of the four points provided from a win, which would have advanced them to the knockout round, the U.S. earned just one point from the tie. They are still alive; but so is every other team in their group, including Portugal.
Team USA will next face No. 2 ranked Germany, who shutout Portugal 4-0 in their first match, and then tied 2-2 with Ghana. While Team USA will not be eliminated if they lose on Thursday, they will need a lot of chips to fall into place to advance. It is a disappointing situation to be in after being mere seconds away from a sure thing.
But the team, whose motto during this World Cup has been “I believe that we will win,” is staying positive.
“We’re a little disappointed, but still optimistic,” Howard said. “We thought we’d put one foot in the round of 16, but we are where we’d aimed to be before the tournament: going into the final game with a good chance of progressing…We’re not going to let the last-gasp goal us down.”
Tiger Woods
A month after speaking to the media at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, Tiger Woods announced that he would be playing at the Quicken Loans National, the annual PGA event benefitting his eponymous foundation.
During his May press conference, Woods expressed uncertainty about his involvement in the tournament, saying he couldn’t take full shots: “As of right now, I can chip and putt but that’s it.” However, Woods now appears ready to take the next step in his rehab.
“I will be a bit rusty, but I want to play myself back into competitive shape, ” Woods said. “Excited for the challenge ahead.”
Woods’ return suggests he will play in the Open Championship in mid-July, an exciting thought for golf fans.
“Every time he’s in the field, the event is different,” fellow golfer and major winner Keegan Bradley said. “That might not be the right thing to say, but it’s really exciting when he’s out there. We need Tiger. The whole tour needs Tiger and golf needs Tiger.”
The Quicken Loans National will run from June 23-29 at Congressional.
