Then Kevins’ super subs helped turn the tide.
Dudley, the Florida State star who scored the overtime winner against Mexico in the Round of 16 match, gave the USA hope in the 98th minute (the fourth official had indicated eight minutes of added time). Lemos launched a high ball from midfield that Dudley was able to corral as she stormed between two German defenders. Dudley skillfully set up her shot then slid the ball past Adamczyk into the lower left corner.
The U.S. players wrestled the ball away from the Germany players and out of the net to speed up the kick-off and they would need every second. Less than 90 seconds later, the amazing Americans were level. Another sub, the speedy Maddie Dahlien, dribbled through the right side of the penalty area and with pure will, beat her defender before cutting a cross that ricocheted off the bottom of a defender’s foot and bounced up toward the near post. The relentless Sentnor, who’d come so close so many times, finally got the goal she deserved, beating Adamczyk to the ball and knocking it with her right know, through the legs of defender Jella Veitm and into the net. It was the captain’s third of the World Cup.
Both sides were clearly fatigued during the 30 minutes of overtime, so penalty kicks would decide it. The U-20s previously had contested four shootouts in their World Cup history and agonizingly lost all four, most recently to North Korea in a 2014 quarterfinal round. So it made sense to let the veteran Sentnor get the U.S. started, and she delivered a perfect opener. Germany’s Paulina Platner then missed wide left, and captain Vanessa Diehm hit the woodwork. Riley Jackson and Leah Klenke were clutch for the USA, burying their kicks, and when Wy denied Alara Sehitler — with a right-handed save that echoed her first half stunner — the improbable comeback was complete.
Yet, it still wasn’t over. Yet another video review was required to check whether Wy’s clinching save was legal. Her foot was on the line. This one finally went the Americans’ way.
The USA ended up outshooting Germany 21-18, but the German wingers were talented and dangerous. Full credit goes outside backs Savy King and Thompson, and late Klenke, who all did a fine job of keeping them from getting behind the U.S. defense.
The Sept. 18 semifinal between the USA and North Korea will mark the fifth time the countries have met at the U-20 Women’s World Cup. Each occurred in the knockout stage. The Koreans won a 2016 semifinal in extra time and that 2014 quarterfinal on penalties. The U.S. was victorious in the 2012 quarterfinals (also in extra time) and the 2008 World Cup Final, 2-1, thanks to goals by future senior team stars Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan.
The other semifinal, which will take place later on Sept. 18 in Cali, will feature the Netherlands, which defeated Colombia in penalty kicks in front of a massive sold-out crowd as Pascual Guererro Stadium, and Japan, with sent reigning champions Spain home with a deserved 1-0 win.
