The USWNT v. Canada WNT soccer rivalry is renewed in the inaugural season of the NWSL on August 4th, 2013, when then Portland Thorns striker, Alex Morgan and FC Kansas City (“FCKC”) midfielder, Desiree Scott tussle in the 85th minute with Scott knocking Morgan down from behind and the referee then awarding the Thorns a free kick from roughly 30 yards out as a result. When Morgan got up from her tumble to the ground, Scott shoulder bumped her and Alex saw red, practically lunging/charging at her with an ensuing chest bump. Fellow USWNTer, FCKC forward and close friend, Lauren Holiday (nee Cheney) exchanged a wry smile with Morgan as Alex walked away from the confrontation to line up on the edge of the penalty area in the hopes of getting on the end of the ensuing Tobin Heath free kick. Down 1-3 at the time, Morgan was unhappy needless to say given Portland had their sights set on winning the NWSL Shield in what would have enabled them to host a semifinal playoff berth at home at then Jeld-Wen Field (now Providence Park). Morgan was able to pull the Thorns within one a few minutes later, scoring a left footed beauty past ex-USWNT teammate, keeper Nicole Barnhart to the far post in the 89th minute. However, in the end, the Thorns still fell to FCKC with a final score of 2 to 3 but the Morgan/Scott throw-down lived on infamously in pictures and GIFs and now here at USWNT Classics in true HD video footage. EPIC and HILARIOUS! Haha! Enjoy!
(OF NOTE: This incident occurred roughly a year to the day - August, 6th, 2012 - of the Americans historic come-from-behind London 2012 Olympics Semifinals 4-3 win against longtime foe and cross-border rival, Canada at Old Trafford, home to the EPL’s storied club Manchester United and known across England and the footballing world as “The Theater of Dreams” when Morgan’s head connected with a Heather O’Reilly cross in stoppage time of extra time, and sent the ball into the back of the net just over the outstretched fingertips of Canadian keeper, Erin McLeod in the 123rd minute, still standing on record as the latest goal in a FIFA competition, male or female. Also, noteworthy: Morgan’s Thorns teammate and Scott’s CANWNT teammate, legendary striker, Christine Sinclair was responsible for all three of Canada’s goals that night, scoring a ridiculous hat trick, yet still the USWNT’s neighbors to the North fell to the US, who eventually went onto win gold 2-1 against Japan at the “Spiritual Home” (Cathedral) of English Football, Wembley Stadium in an epic rematch of the 2011 Women’s World Cup (“WWC”) 2011 Final (Germany), in which the US heartbreakingly lost on penalty kicks, as the Japanese women went on to become the first Asian team to win a World Cup, raising the spirits of a nation not long before ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami. The Canadians rebounded, however, and went on to capture the Bronze Medal, with a late regulation stoppage time goal of their own to win it in their own dramatic fashion 1-0 over France.)
