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If you were an impartial observer -- though I doubt many impartial observers took in the game -- the first half of the game between the United States women and Australia at Dick's Sporting Goods Park was a fantastic game to watch. If you were a fan of the United States, the second half was for you as the team took a 2-2 draw and blew it wide open with four goals in the last 45 minutes.
Pia Sundhage's swan song with the US Women was a fantastic display by the ladies, though it started off quite a bit more tense than I'm sure she would have liked. It was all-USA for the first 10 minutes of action or so, but despite their best efforts at putting in a goal, everything seemed to be sailing wide.
Fortunately, the possession held for the team and they eventually snapped the 0-0 deadlock in the 25th minute via a goal by Heather O'Reilly which took a big deflection off of Servet Uzunlar.
The lead wouldn't last long for the United States, as two lazy defensive plays led to two straight Australia goals within a two minute span. Lisa de Vanna and Sarah Walsh, playing in the final game of her Australian international career, netted the goals.
Alex Morgan responded by netting her first goal of the game in the 42nd minute, leading to a 2-2 score at the break after a great first half of action.
After the whistle blew for the second half, the United States took the game and blew it wide open. Australia could do little about it as Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan began to tear the defense apart. Wambach got her first goal of the game after a crazy tailspinning ball off her foot somehow ended up in the net, and Morgan earned a brace for herself when she stuck home a great cross from Heather Mitts with her head.
Up 4-2, the game looked completely in hand but the United States didn't quit. Even after a few substituions, the team continued to steam along as Shannon Boxx and Sydney Leroux both netted goals in the final 30 minutes of regulation.
The tribute to Pia Sundhage following the game was touching and ended with the Swedish coach doing a victory lap around the park as the players sang 'You Are My Sunshine' to her. A fantastic end to a fantastic coaching career with the US Women's National Team.