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US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, heroine of her team’s quarterfinal victory at the women’s Olympics soccer tournament, suffered a knee injury Monday during the team’s semi-final match against Canada.
Naeher was injured by a strange fall as he leapt to cut the Canadian diagonal at 20 minutes. Colliding with teammate Julie Ertz as Canada’s Nichelle Prince competed in the challenge by both, Naeher landed with her right leg extended. His right knee seemed to be bent backwards as his foot got stuck in the grass.
Naeher immediately rolled over in obvious pain and the game was stopped so she could get treatment. Lying on his back, he was watched by two US coaches for about six minutes before deciding to stay in the game.
But about four minutes later, after the United States won the goal kick, Naeher picked up the ball and aggravated the injury by shaking his right leg hard for the first time. He jumped onto the landing field, realized he couldn’t continue, and immediately waved to the bench and called a reserve.
Quickly warming up as Naeher’s first treatment was given, Adrianna Franch rushed to take her place.
Naeher left the field from the closest possible route – the finish line behind the goal – and then slowly limped around the corner flag and returned to the United States bench.
When he got close enough for his teammates to greet him, Naeher seemed to be wiping tears with his yellow jersey.
Naeher was the only U.S. player to play every minute of the Olympic tournament that went into Monday, but on Friday it was his heroism that showed his true worth, as he landed a few dive saves and blocked a penalty kick against the Netherlands.
He made two more saves in the penalty shootout after the USA and the Netherlands played 2-2 equal. His final stop was the Americans’ semi-final ticket.
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