July 17, 2008 - It started out a friendly soccer game Wednesday night between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Brazil. It was their second match this week, and final meeting before heading off to Beijing for the Summer Games.

With only 32 minutes played, team forward and former Gator star Abby Wambach - the crux of the U.S. offense - rushed to try to reach a ball defended by Brazilian player Maria Rosa.  And with the ensuing collision she suffered a midshaft oblique fracture on both her tibia and fibula.

This sucks on so many levels but most importantly: Wambach has a broken leg and will miss the Olympics! A year ago, the star forward broke her right big toe in the final game before the 2007 World Cup in China. Seems like Wambach should really sit out these tune-up games.

The U.S. beat Brazil 1-0 with Tasha Kai’s lone score but that’s little consolation.

Wambach is a great player known for scoring goals who seemed destined to be one of the stars of the Beijing Olympics. With 99 international goals to her name, she was eager to  reach her landmark hundredth goal. Looks like that goal will have to be put on hold - at least for the 12 weeks she’ll be sidelined after her surgery. 

It’s a crushing blow to Wambach and the United States’ women’s soccer team - especially with the recent losses of Cat Whitehill and Leslie Osborne to ACL injuries.

Current coach Pia Sundhage certainly has her work cut out for her when the U.S. begins their defense of the Olympic Gold medal on Aug. 6 against Norway. Oh, Abby - you’ll be missed.

Filed under: Beijing Summer Games 2008, Int'l Soccer by jane

Related Posts

• August 5, 2008 -- Girls Kick Grass: Olympic play set to begin (0)
• August 21, 2008 -- Golden Girls: USA Women’s Soccer (0)
• August 6, 2008 -- Ouch: Early upset for U.S. Soccer Team in Beijing (1)