Rapinoe’s kick settles shootout

YOKOHAMA, Japan — When Megan Rapinoe stepped up to take her kick, 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.”

This one was a winner.

The United States advanced to the semifinals of the women’s soccer tournament at the Tokyo Olympics when Rapinoe converted the deciding penalty in a 4-2 shootout Friday after a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped Vivianne Miedema’s opening attempt in the shootout, then saved a shot from Aniek Nouwen before Rapinoe put hers away. After Rapinoe converted, she turned to her teammates, folded her arms and grinned in triumph.

Afterward, she joked about the pressure. “I just try to stay calm. I always say to myself, ‘The worst that’s going to happen is you’re going to lose the whole thing,’” she said with a smile.

Miedema scored a pair of goals in regulation time for the Netherlands, giving her 10 for the tournament — an Olympic record — but the Dutch are headed home.

Miedema put them ahead in the 18th minute, but the Americans equalized when Sam Mewis headed in a goal off a feed from Lynn Williams in the 28th. Williams then gave the Americans the lead in the 31st.

Miedema, who was playing in her 100th game for the Netherlands, made it 2-2 in the 54th. Naeher stopped Lieke Martens’ penalty kick in the 81st minute, and the game went to overtime.

“This team just kept pushing for 90 minutes, 120 minutes, and we just kept believing that we were going to find a way to get it done,” Naeher said. “Very proud of the four players to step up and score their four penalties to go 4-for-4. That is huge.”

The Americans will next face familiar foe Canada on Monday in Kashima. The Canadians advanced to the semifinals 4-3 on penalties after a scoreless draw with Brazil in Rifu.

The Americans went to a shootout for the fifth time in a major tournament. The previous time was at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when they were bounced by Sweden in the quarterfinals.

Friday’s game at the International Stadium brought together the two teams that played in the Women’s World Cup final two years ago in France. The Americans won 2-0 that day.