OTTAWA — The last time the United States and China met in a World Cup match was 1999. Brandi Chastain made the game-winning penalty shot and USA won the tournament.
The U.S. hasn’t won a World Cup since. Rather than reminisce about what happened 16 years ago, the story line leading into this quarterfinal for the U.S. is the fact that its game plan four matches into the tournament is stalling.
Friday, the U.S. will be without Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, who will be sitting out with two yellow cards apiece. They’ve both started every match of the tournament.