Abby Wambach’s 2011 Goal against Brazil Voted Best Moment in U.S. Soccer History

Wambach’s Injury-Time Header Beats out Landon Donovan’s 2010 FIFA World Cup Goal and 62 Other Top Moments; Fans Decided Winner after Week of Voting on ussoccer.com; All-Time Best XI to be Announced Dec. 19 & 20

© Thomas Eisenhuth/isiphotos.com

IN THE IMAGE: Wambach’s stoppage-time goal leveled the score at 2-2 in the final moments of overtime in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup quarterfinal match between the USA and Brazil.

CHICAGO (Dec. 18, 2013) – Abby Wambach’s dramatic and stunning goal against Brazil in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal has defeated all other challengers to win the Best of U.S. Soccer: #100Years Edition.

Wambach’s stoppage-time score that pulled the USA even at 2-2 at the very end of overtime in a match that the USA eventually won in penalty kicks, triumphed in all six of its matchups during the 64-moment bracket-style competition. In the final round, Wambach’s 122nd-minute header off a cross from Megan Rapinoe – which at the time was the latest goal ever scored in a FIFA competition – edged Landon Donovan’s historic strike at the end of the last match of group play against Algeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

More than 10,000 fans voted on the final match-up to crown Wambach the winner, while more than 210,000 votes were cast overall.

The two most famous American goals of the modern era went toe-to-toe on the final day, after both saw off semifinal competition from the USA’s 2012 Olympic semifinal victory against Canada and the 1996 Olympic gold medal victory for the WNT, respectively.

Later this week U.S. Soccer will also announce the results of its All-Time Best XI, as the Centennial celebration year comes to a close. The Federation will reveal an All-Time Best XI for the Women’s National Team on Dec. 19, followed by a Men’s National Team on Dec. 20.

In an effort to create a fair and reasonable process to determine the All-Time Best XI, U.S. Soccer appointed a committee of soccer historians and former players, coaches, media members and administrators at the National Team level.

The committee determined the list of eligible players for selection to the Best XI, as well as the criteria to be considered by the list of voters. Voters for the Best XI comprise former players and administrators, as well as media members.

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