Left in disbelief at how the United States defeated Japan on Sunday, Abby Wambach was proud to be part of a win that had long eluded her, writes Simon Fudge.
VANCOUVER — It was a long journey for Abby Wambach, one that ended with not as influential of a role as she might have desired. Yet, on a warm, hazy Sunday afternoon in downtown Vancouver, one of women’s soccer’s greatest players finally became a World Cup winner with the United States.
The 35-year-old likely had considered many different scenarios as to how a rematch with Women’s World Cup holder Japan would play out at BC Place and if she might make the difference coming off the substitutes’ bench.