PARIS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Trinity Rodman scored a goal in extra time as the United States beat Japan 1-0 to advance to women's soccer semifinals of the Paris Olympics on Saturday.
Japan managed well defensively until the end of the first half of the extra time when Rodman picked up a long pass from Crystal Dunn on the right side of the area, and dodged Japanese defender Hikaru Hitagawa before releasing a powerful angled left-foot shot which left Japanese goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita with no chance to save.
Japan's best chance came in the 37th minute as a deft pass found midfielder Miyabi Moriya unmarked with only the American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to beat, but her shot flew over the crossbar.
The United States, which enjoyed 71 percent ball possession, made four shots on goal against Japan's one throughout the match.
