The Americans will get their chance to avenge September's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup semifinals on a significantly larger stage. The United States and Brazil will face off in the gold medal match Thursday after both teams put up four goals in semifinal wins. The Americans beat Japan, 4-2, at Worker's Stadium behind two goals from midfielder Angela Hucles. The Brazilians, in their own revenge game, defeated defending World Cup champ Germany, 4-1. The Germans beat Brazil in the World Cup final.

But that game didn't have nearly the ripple effect that the U.S. loss to Brazil did. It was after the semifinal loss that goalkeeper Hope Solo criticized then-head coach Greg Ryan for starting Briana Scurry in net despite the younger Solo having been established as the regular starter.

The more the Americans win, the deeper softball falls into its own grave. At this rate, the sport never will get back in the Olympics. The United States continued its dominance at the Beijing Games with a 9-0 victory against China in 4 1/2 innings, another lopsided result not helping softball's quest to show it belongs on the world's biggest stage.

U.S. baseball notched an emotional 9-1 victory in Olympic round-robin play at Wukesong Field. The United States outhit China 9-3 with bats and 2-0 in home-plate collisions. China's pitchers outdid Team USA in hitting batters, 5-2. China lost starting catcher Wang Wei to a leg injury. Team USA lost right fielder Matt LaPorta, who was nailed by a pitch in the head and was diagnosed with a mild concussion.

Laura Bennett placed fourth in the women's triathlon. The leader after the swim, Bennett lost ground during the bike ride, where her time of 1:24.42 ranked 13th. The gold medal went to Emma Snowsill of Australia in a time of 1:58:27.66.

Jeff Powers and Adam Wright scored two goals each as the United States beat Germany, 8-7, in men's water polo. The United States (4-1) is the top seed in Group B and advances to Thursday's semifinals, the first time the Americans have played for a medal since 1992.

Jan Jagla, formerly of Penn State, went 4 for 10 from the field and scored 10 points with six rebounds for Germany in a 106-57 loss to Team USA.

Jeremy Cummings, formerly of West Virginia University, did not play in the U.S.'s 9-1 win against China. The United States plays Taiwan today.

Mike Friedman, a Peters Township High School graduate, will compete in Madison Cycling.

Megan Metcalfe, formerly of West Virginia University, will compete in the 5,000-meter run for Canada.