Abby Wambach misses penalty but USA squeeze past Colombia

The USA progressed to the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup with a less-than-convincing display against Colombia.

They reached the break goalless, but were given a golden opportunity to take the lead after goalkeeper Catalina Perez conceded a penalty and was sent off for bringing down Alex Morgan.

But Abby Wambach - the prolific, iconic striker - hit her penalty appallingly wide.

Morgan finally got the USA's opener, forcing her shot through the hands of Stefany Castano, then Carli Lloyd showed her captain how to convert from 12 yards with a stinging penalty after a foul on Megan Rapinoe.

The USA now go through to meet China in the quarter-finals.

4' - OFFSIDE! As if that's going to get given, Abby Wambach - you're offside and that might have been a foul on the keeper too. Perez did well to parry Heath's initial shot, and Wambach's boot prodded it over the line.

7' - CLOSE! Lady Andrade is on the floor, apparently hurt, but the referee doesn't stop play because Colombia have the ball. Andrade then gets on her feet and zooms down the left, and into the box, riding two challenges before losing her footing.

14' - CHANCE! Shot and save! Wambach has all the space she could ever wish for on the edge of the box, turns and shoots, and Perez palms that away brilliantly.

47' - RED CARD! Poor little Perez. She's come out and brought down Morgan right on the edge of the box - but there was a defender covering. What a shame.

49' - MISSED PENALTY! Goodness me, that's one of the worst penalties in the history of the world. Abby Wambach just skies that miles to the left of the goal. What a hideous incident.

53' - GOAL! Castano's not been on for long, and makes a mistake, caught off balance by Morgan's shot which she helps into the net.

66' - GOAL! That's how you take a penalty. Carli Lloyd takes a great kick after Clavijo brings down Rapinoe.

This was the second time the USA had taken two penalties in a Women's World Cup game, after Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy both scored in 2003 against Nigeria.

Abby Wambach is the first USA player to completely miss the goal on a Women's World Cup penalty although Mia Hamm had one saved by the goalkeeper.

The USA won both previous games v Colombia 3-0, at the 2011 Women's World Cup and the 2012 Olympics.

Can the USA reclaim their world crown? Once the dominant force in women's football, they've looked very lacklustre so far but have nevertheless ploughed on - despite some team selections that have been questioned by observers, not least the choice of Abby Wambach to start in this match.

Alex Morgan (USA): Creative and decisive.

USA: Solo 7, Sauerbrunn 7, Lloyd 7, Krieger 7, Holiday 7, Morgan 7, Rapinoe 8, Heath 7, Johnston 7, Wambach (C) 6, Klingenberg 7.

Colombia: Perez 6, Gaitan (C) 6, Ospina 6, Montoya 6, Vidal 6, Velasquez 7, Rincon 7, Clavijo 6, N. Arias 6, Andrade 6, C. Arias 6.