Report by USA Soccer
U.S. versus New Zealand photo gallery – Photos by US PressWire

Gator Great Abby Wambach provided the game-winning goal in the 27th minute to send the U.S. to the Olympic semifinals with a 2-0 win over New Zealand in quarterfinal action Friday at St. James’ Park in Newcastle, England.

USA advances to its fifth consecutive Olympic semifinal and will face Canada on Aug. 6 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. That match can be seen live on NBC Sports Network at 2:45 p.m. ET

Alex Morgan’s cross in the box found Wambach’s sliding right foot as she scored her eighth career Olympic goal. Wambach holds second on the all-time international career list, upping her total to 142 goals. Mia Hamm owns the international goals record (158). 0

Sydney Leroux, making her third Olympic appearance, scored an insurance goal in the 87th minute. Morgan notched her third assist in this year’s Olympic Games with the cross to Wambach.

Heather Mitts did not enter the match for the USA Tuesday. Another Gator, Melanie Booth, was part of Canada’s roster Friday, which advanced to face the U.S. in the semifinals with a 2-0 win versus Great Britain. Booth did not enter the Canada-Great Britain match.

- U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report -

Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. New Zealand
Date: Aug. 3, 2012
Competition: 2012 Olympic Games; Quarterfinal
Venue: St. James’ Park; Newcastle, England
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. local (9:30 a.m. ET)
Attendance: n/a
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                         1 1 2
NZL                          0 0 0

USA – Abby Wambach (Alex Morgan)                   27^th minute
USA – Sydney Leroux (Tobin Heath)                     87

Lineups:
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 6-Amy LePeilbet, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 16-Rachel Buehler, 5-Kelley O’Hara; 15-Megan Rapinoe (9-Heather O’Reilly, 71), 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney (8-Amy Rodriguez, 90+1), 17-Tobin Heath; 13-Alex Morgan (11-Sydney Leroux, 80), 14-Abby Wambach
Subs not used: 2-Heather Mitts, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 7-Shannon Boxx, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head coach: Pia Sundhage

NZL: 1-Jenny Bindon; 2-Ria Percival, 5-Abby Erceg, 6-Rebecca Smith (capt.), 7-Ali Riley; 4-Katie Hoyle (16-Annalie Longo, 90+4), 11-Kirsty Yallop (8-Hayley Moorwood, 57), 12-Betsy Hassett, 10-Sarah Gregorius; 9-Amber Hearn, 17-Hannah Wilkinson (13-Rosie White, 77)
Subs not used: 18-Rebecca Rolls, 3-Anna Green, 14-Kristy Hill, 15-Rebekah Stott
Head coach: Tony Readings

Statistical Summary: USA / NZL
Shots: 16 / 8
Shots on Goal: 8 / 4
Saves: 4 / 6
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 14 / 6
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Abby Wambach (caution)                         43^rd minute
USA – Carli Lloyd (caution)                                79

Officials:
Referee: Jesica Di Iorio (ARG)
Assistant Referee 1: Marina Corbo (URU)
Assistant Referee 2: Maria Rocco (SWE)
Fourth Official: Therese Neguel (CMR)