YOKOHAMA, JAPAN — When Megan Rapinoe stepped up to take her penalty shot, she was just trying to stay as calm as possible in the moment.
“You can either take one and lose it, or take one and win it,” she said. “It’s going to go one of two ways.”
Rapinoe converted the deciding penalty in a shootout and the United States advanced to the semifinals of the women's Olympic soccer tournament 4-2 following a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Friday.
U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Vivianne Miedema's opening attempt in the shootout and then saved a shot from Aniek Nouwen before Rapinoe put her penalty away.