[WOMEN'S WORLD CUP] The United States eased into the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup with its second shutout win in two games, a 3-0 victory over outmatched Colombia.

GREAT FINISHING. The USA got great goals by Heather O’Reilly (scoring from distance in the 12th minute) and Megan Rapinoe (playing a one-two with Lauren Cheney after a throw-in). The third goal was scored by Carli Lloyd, whose long shot was played into the goal by Colombian keeper Sandra Sepulveda.

AND MORE FRUSTRATION. The USA could have had scored a dozen or more goals if it had taken its chances. Abby Wambach and Amy Rodriguez endured a poor afternoon of finishing before a sold-out crowd of 25,475 at Rhein-Neckar-Arena. Rodriguez came off at the half for Rapinoe, and all Wambach (nine shots) had to show for her afternoon was a yellow card picked up in the second half for a challenge on Sepulveda.

CHANGE IN MIDFIELD. As expected, U.S. coach Pia Sundhage replaced Shannon Boxx in midfield with Lori Lindsey, who played in a more advance role.

YOUNG COLOMBIANS. Colombia was eliminated with its second loss in two games. The gap between the USA and Colombia remains huge, as evidenced by the U.S. edge in shots: 27-12. Colombia has one of the youngest teams at the Women's World Cup. Its captain, University of Toledo defender Natalia Gaitan, was making only her third appearance for the Cafeteras.

July 2 in Sinsheim
USA 3 Colombia 0. Goals: O’Reilly 12, Rapinoe 50, Lloyd 57.
USA -- Solo, Krieger, Buehler, Rampone, LePeilbet (Cox, 56), O’Reilly (Heath, 62), Lindsey, Lloyd, Cheney, Rodriguez (Rapinoe, 46), Wambach.
Colombia -- Sepulveda, Arias, Peduzine, Gaitan, Montano, Ospina, Dominguez, Salazar (Rincon, 55), Rodallega, Castro, Usme (Velasquez, 53).
Referee: Dagmar Damkova (Czech Rep.).
Att.: 25,475.