A day after the U.S. Women’s National Team put together its best game of the Women’s World Cup to dispatch Germany 2-0, we know now who the Americans will play in the final. That would be Japan, which beat England 2-1 in the 93rd minute on Wednesday.
But the way the Japanese won left much of the world heartbroken for the English team, particularly Laura Bassett—who, while trying to clear the ball away from a dangerous area of the field with only seconds left in regulation, accidentally scored an own goal to provide the winning margin for Japan and knock her own team out of the tournament.
It’s the first time in Women’s World Cup history that an own-goal had been scored in stoppage time, and it’s as brutal as you might imagine.
https://vine.co/v/e1bZwvhivqz
And here’s the excruciating walk back to the sideline post game for Bassett and a supportive teammate.
https://vine.co/v/e1MbDhmLTvi
Here was what English coach Mark Sampson had to say after the game.
But Bassett found something amazing after the game: plenty of Twitter support.
https://twitter.com/Bonnie_D_Ford/status/616410776472014849
Think Laura Bassett is redefining sporting pathos here: sobbing in her teammates’ embrace
— Christopher Clarey 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 (@christophclarey) July 2, 2015
Okay, @laurabassett6′s at mentions are pretty amazing. #Sports pic.twitter.com/wOBO9Fb0MC
— Kate Fagan (@katefagan3) July 2, 2015
Screengrab via Fox Sports/YouTube
