Karma is a fickle friend...
During the New York Yankees game which featured Derek Jeter's 3000th Career hit, a young man caught the historic ball, and quickly and without hesitation told the usher..."Give it to Derek, it's his ball...I don't want anything for it."
The NY Yankees organization quickly gave him the keys to the Stadium in appreciation of his selfless act of honor. He got free tickets, premium seats, backstage passes, an on-air interview in the YES Network booth...etc, etc, etc.
But, just as good deeds will result in good karma, bad deeds and injustices will result in bad karma.
Brazil found this out first hand in the 2011 Women's World Cup Quarterfinal game against the USA.
The US endured bad officiating, bad luck, and bad acting from the Brazilians and persevered in a game so full of drama that even TNT said..."Now that's what we're talking about!"
Having to play the final 55 minutes with a player disadvantage, due to the aforementioned bad officiating, with the score tied 1-1 - due to more bad officiating where a Hope Solo penalty kick save was forced to be re-taken - they forced the Brazilians into a 30 minute Overtime period. Then when another example of bad officiating - missing a clear offsides by the Brazilians - lead to a miraculous goal by Brazil's Marta - better known as the Female version of Lionel Messi - and a Brazil lead 2-1 in overtime, it would have been understandable for the US Lady's to hang their heads.
But, through it all, the true characters of the two teams shown through...The US kept pushing, and fighting, and scratching, and clawing despite playing with only 10 players to Brazil's 11...while the Brazilians attempted to use ever trick to wind down the clock.
At one point, a Brazilian defender - Erika - went down with no one within 5 yards of her, and began acting as if a sharpshooter had taken her out. After several minutes of rolling around on the ground, the stretcher was brought out, she was loaded onto it, and was carried away. She had been carried barely 10 feet when she unstrapped herself, jumped off the stretcher, and began to sprint to the center circle ready to re-enter the game. The act was such a cheap blatant display of timewasting that even THIS referee saw fit to grant her a yellow card for her troubles.
But, as was said before karma is a fickle friend, and it also seems to come with a sense of irony. As the game wore on with the US trailing 2-1, and the clock crept ever closer to 120 minutes, the US's hopes seemed to fade, despite the constant pressure on the Brazilian goal. But, as a result of the atrocious acting by Erika, the ref extended the game for an additional 3 minutes.
And, then in the 122nd minute, Midfielder Megan Rapinoe raced down the left wing, and unleashed a long, curving, hopeful ball to the far post...rocketing past 2 defenders, and the goalkeeper, and colliding with Abby Wambach's head, slamming into the back of the net. The game was tied 2-2! As the stadium erupted, the US Players celebrated, while the disheartened Brazilian's looked on.
The game comes down to a penalty-kick shootout.
The first penalty kick taker for the US walked up to the spot - Shannon Boxx. She shot high and to the right, but was stopped by the Brazilian goalkepper. But, it was then that karma spoke up, and said...hold on a minute, Hope Solo's save was called back because of a borderline encroachment call, then this will definitely have to be re-taken. The goalkeeper clearly took 2 steps off her line before the kick. A goalkeeper is allowed to move laterally along the goal-line, but not forward. So, Shannon Boxx re-took her kick, and again shot to the right side...this time with more height and power, and buried it in the back of the net.
Each shooter buried the subsequent shots until the 3th round...After Abby Wambach converted her chance to give the US a 3-2 edge, Brazil defender, Daiane, stepped up to the spot, and shot to the left. Hope Solo dove fully-extended to her right, and parried the shot away. A World-class save!
And when the 5th US shooter, Alex Krieger, converted her shot, the US celebrated the most remarkable comeback in Women's World Cup History.
Adversity and injustice had been overcome by true grit and undying determination. Now the US face France in the Semifinals. WHEW!
Me explaining it does not do the events justice...so, watch the video below.
WWC USA v Brazil July 10, 2011
GO USA!!!
Peace
G
