Copa America Semifinal Between Venezula & Paraguay Goes Off the Rails

Wednesday night's 2011 Copa America semifinal between Venezula & Paraguay ended up being decided on penalty kicks, which Paraguay won, 5-3, but then the situation went south quick as a brawl erupted on the pitch.

Nike Hope Solo & US Women's Team Commercials

Just giving the people what they want:

Episode 32 of The Zygo Soccer Report: Houston Dynamo 2-0 Toronto FC

The Houston Dynamo hosted Toronto FC this past Saturday, winning this Eastern Conference match-up 2-0.

The Obligatory Fan Response to Abby Wambach Goal Video

Considering the response with which the fan response to the Landon Donovan goal against Algeria was met last summer during the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, not surprising that Abby Wambach's more than last minute goal against Brazil (and Ali Krieger's penalty shot) has received the same treatment.

Highlights: USWNT Advances After Penalty Shootout Against Brazil

It was a roller coaster of a match in Dresden, Germany on Sunday July 10, 2011, when the United States and Brazil met in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

It was an own goal, put into the net by Daiane, that gave the United States an early lead:



Then in controversial confluence of events, Rachel Buehler picked up a red card in the 65th minute, but after Hope Solo stopped a penalty kick taken by Cristiane, but, after an encroachment call, the penalty was retaken, and converted, by Marta:



The match stayed tied at 1-1 as regulation came to end. Marta picked up her second goal of the match, giving Brazil the lead, early in extra time:



The score remained 2-1 in favor of Brazil as the clock ticked off 120 minutes, but it was Abby Wambach who saved the United States with this header:



Thanks to Wambach's header, the math was sent to penalty kicks:



The United States will face France in the semifinals on Wednesday.

[VIDEO] Controversial Sequence in US v. Brazil Results in Equalizer for Brazil

Brazil and the United States met in the Quarterfinals of the 2011 Women's World Cup (match is ongoing as I post this). No matter the result, it's this sequence of events that will be discussed and remembered the most:

David Beckham Thinks He's Jorge Espericueta

Last night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, David Beckham did his best Jorge Espericueta imitation as he scored the game winner for L.A. Galaxy against Chicago Fire on this corner kick:



On Thursday, Espericueta scored on this corner kick for Mexico in the U-17 World Cup:

Julio Gomez's Bicycle Kick - Soccer House Should Be Worried

Last night in the semifinals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Mexico gave notice and fired a figurative shot across Soccer House's bow when Julio Gomez, head wrapped in gauze, scored the goal that gave Mexico the 3-2 win over Germany with the lovely bicycle kick shown in the video below.

The young German squad, which had knocked out the United States in a 4-0 victory during the Round of 16, took an early 2-1 lead, but then, in the 75th minute, Jorge Espericueta picked up the equalizer on an improbable corner kick (you can watch it in the second video below). Finally, in the 89th minute, Julio Gomez, who suffered a head wound earlier in the match during a collision with a German player, picked up the game winner, sending Mexico to the final, where they will face Uruguay.

After the beating that the Mexican senior squad gave the United States senior squad in the recent CONCACAF Gold Cup final, Soccer House should be worried about its place in CONCACAF, past dominance means nothing if you allow it lead you to stagnancy, and, right now, Soccer House looks like a stagnant, scum covered bog when compared to the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación.

Your Thursday Goals

Still enjoying a short summer vacation here at The Zygo Soccer Report, but here's some videos of goals (and some bonus material) to keep you entertained.

Happy 4th of July - Marvin Gaye Sings National Anthem

It's a holiday weekend here in the States, so I've been enjoying it, relaxing. But here is a little something in honor of the holiday: