 During the United States ' third group stage match against North Korea , Wambach scored the lone goal of the match during the 25th minute on a play that consisted of a long ball by Lauren Cheney to Alex Morgan . Morgan slid a pass between two defenders to Wambach who easily tapped in her third goal of the tournament . In front of 29 @,@ 522 spectators at Old Trafford , the Americans finished first in their group with the win and it launched them to the quarter @-@ final against New Zealand . The game also marked the first women 's soccer game at Old Trafford in 23 years . During the quarter @-@ final match against New Zealand , Wambach scored her fourth goal of the tournament during the 27th minute of the match . After sliding onto the ball to score , she then led a celebration of cartwheels — a tribute to the United States gymnastics team . With a second goal scored by Sydney Leroux in the 87th minute , the Americans defeated New Zealand 2 – 0 and moved onto the semi @-@ finals . Wambach also scored the game @-@ tying third goal , on a penalty kick , in the United States ' 4 – 3 controversial semifinal win over Canada . 
