The United States have moved into the Women's World Cup
quarter-finals on Monday with a 2-0 win over Colombia as England fought back to
beat former winners Norway 2-1 to book their last eight spot.
Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd both scored in the second half
of a tough game for the second-ranked Americans.
Two-time winners the United States next play China in Ottawa
on Friday while England meet hosts Canada in Vancouver on Saturday for a place
in the semi-finals.
Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Perez was sent off in her
first World Cup game following a diving tackle on US forward Morgan two minutes
after the break.
Abby Wambach stepped up to take the penalty but dramatically
sent the ball left of goal, denying her a record-equalling 15th Women's World
Cup goal to match Brazil star Marta.
Morgan finally broke through after 53 minutes with Lloyd
getting a second 13 minutes later from a penalty after Megan Rapinoe was fouled
inside the box by defender Angela Clavijo.
It was, however, a costly game for the Americans, with key
midfielders Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday set to miss the China game after
collecting yellow cards.
"We've dealt with injuries so I feel very confident in
the players we have to be able to step up and help us advance," said US
coach Jill Ellis.
In the day's later game, Sixth-ranked England were trailing
after Solveig Gulbrandsen headed in for Norway after 54 minutes in Ottawa.
But second-half goals from captain Steph Houghton and
defender Lucy Bronze gave England their first win in the knockout round of the
tournament.
"The names of these players, this team, will go down in
English football history - but make no mistake, this journey is not over,"
warned coach Mark Sampson.
"Canada have the home crowd, excellent players, an
excellent manager, we need to produce another massive England performance to
get though."
Second-half substitutes Jill Scott and Jodie Taylor lifted
English spirits after Gulbrandsen's opener, with Houghton equalising seven
minutes later.
Bronze got the winner with 14 minutes to go with a powerful
long range shot from 25 metres out.
"England scored on their first scoring chance to level
the game and we started to struggle. We became stressed," lamented Norway
coach Even Pellerud.
"Compliments to my English colleague who managed to do
some nice tactical changes at half time."
In other quarter-final matches, Germany play France while
Australia will meet either holders Japan or the Netherlands, who meet for their
last 16 game in Vancouver on Tuesday.
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