Women’s Olympic Soccer Odds: USWNT Advances to Semifinals in Penalty Kicks

Women’s Olympic Soccer Odds: USWNT Advances to Semifinals in Penalty Kicks

• Team USA defeats Netherlands in penalty kicks at Olympic quarterfinal
• Complete USA vs. Netherlands statistics
• USA vs. Canada semifinal odds and preview

It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest of wins for the No. 1 ranked team in the world, but the United States Women’s National Team defeated Netherlands in penalty kicks on Friday morning, advancing to the Olympics semifinals and guaranteeing they’ll play for a medal.

The United States seemed destined to repeat it’s failures in the 2016 Olympics again this year. In 2016, the USWNT was bounced in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks against Sweden, a massive upset. This time around Team USA left no doubt, scoring in all four of their penalty kicks against Netherlands on Friday.

As predicted, the United States had a terrible time trying to stop Netherlands all-word forward Vivianne Miedema. Miedema scored twice, once to open the game with a 1-0 lead for her team in the 18th minute and again in the 54th minute to tie it at two.

The United States got goals from Sam Mewis in the 28th minute and Lynn Williams in the 31st minutes. Williams was a controversial addition to the starting 11 but made her coach look good by netting the go-ahead goal.

Netherlands controlled much of the play toward the end of regulation and in extra time. But, in penalty kicks it was United States goalie Alyssa Naeher standing on her head, saving two of the four shots she faced, including one from Miedema, to propel her team to the semifinals.

USA vs. Netherlands Stats

USA vs. Netherlands Goals: Vivianne Miedema – NED (18’, 54’), Sam Mewis – USA (28’), Lynn Williams – USA (31’)

Women’s Olympic Soccer Odds: USA vs. Canada

The quarterfinal against Netherlands has barely been over for 20 minutes and it’s already time to look forward and toward the USWNT’s seminfinal matchup against Canada.

Canada played to a 0-0 tie in regulation against Brazil before defeating the Brazilian women in penalty kicks.

Canada is yet to lose at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but their win against Brazil was also just their second win of the Olympics. The Canadians went 1-0-2 in Group E play, tying Great Britain and Japan and defeating Chile, 2-1, for their lone win.

Despite the fact that Canada, the No. 8 ranked team in the world, has not lost a game yet in Tokyo, the United States is odds-on to win in regulation. The latest Team USA vs. Canada odds have the USWNT at -135 and Canada as +380 underdogs.

At -135, the United States has been given an implied probability of 57.4% by oddsmakers. Canada’s +380 odds give them just a 20.8% shot to win in regulation.