‘Zika!’ Hope Solo mocked as women win Olympic opener
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) — Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan scored a goal in each half as the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated New Zealand 2-0 in its debut at the Rio Games on Wednesday, getting off to a solid start in its attempt to win a fourth straight Olympic gold medal.
Lloyd put the Americans ahead with a header in the ninth minute and Morgan added to the lead with a low shot from inside the area less than a minute into the second half at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.
“That was the best way we could have started,” said Tobin Heath, who made the cross that led to Lloyd’s goal. “We came out with a lot of energy and a lot of determination. I think in that regards we put our best foot forward and got that goal and I think that helped propel us throughout the game.”
The U.S. dominated from the start to earn the convincing victory and remain unbeaten in 2016, with 14 shutouts and only one draw in 16 games.
“I was really pleased that we got the clean sheet,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “I thought we moved the ball against a very determined team.”
Near the end of the game, many of the nearly 10,000 fans at the stadium chanted “Zika, Zika” at goalkeeper Hope Solo, who before coming to the Olympics upset some Brazilians by tweeting a photo of herself wearing a hat with mosquito netting in a reference to the virus. The chants were repeated after the final whistle.
“I’m glad the fans had fun,” Solo said. “And if they had fun at my expense, more power to them.”
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Zika!
;^)
Self-promotion is all it is.
Yes and no.
She is a self promoter, sure; however, listening to ESPN last night a couple of the commentators offered some important insight. First a number of the most talented athletes in the world (including the top 3 golfers in the world) are skipping the Olympics precisely because of the Zika virus. So hope and the others who have braved the environment must be given due credit. Zika is a very real threat. Second, all of these American athletes are given gift packages from sponsors, gifts that they are expected to be grateful for in the form of publicly acknowledging and thanking these sponsors for their gifts. Hope was attempting to do just that in a humorous way through her tweet. Whether she succeeded in her attempt is another matter. I get it and laughed about it, but understand why others wouldn't find the humor acceptable.
I am sure you are right, but she could have protected herself without the self promotion on social media. I suspect that is why the Brazilians were booing her.
I dunno about that. I don't think it was the self promotion that riled up the Brazilian crowd , I think they understand that the entire matter of the Zika virus is serious; yet, have themselves found ways to live with the truth of it. They don't live in fear of it. Imo they were taunting her for not taking it seriously by joking about it, while at the same time, also taunting her for reflecting a paranoia about zika.
Funny story. - Go USA! I watched the game on Wednesday and I was trying to figure out what in the world the fans we're yelling towards the end of the match every time Solo would pick up or kick the ball. The announcers thought it was some type of battle cry for New Zealand. I guess they were catching the "Z" sound and associated it with Zealand. hahahaha
Great game, the women's US team looks very strong.
Go USA!