Wambach Breaks Leg in Exhibition

By JERÉ LONGMAN

The United States women's soccer team received an apparently devastating blow to its chances for winning a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics when its top player, forward Abby Wambach, suffered a broken left leg Wednesday night in an exhibition against Brazil.

Wambach broke the tibia and fibula in the leg and will undergo surgery on Thursday to have a titanium rod inserted, a team spokesman said. She is expected to be out of action for three months and will miss the Beijing Games, where the United States women begin play on Aug. 6.

Thirty-one minutes into Wednesday's exhibition, played in San Diego, the fearless and powerful Wambach charged ahead at full speed, seemingly to take a shot from nearly 30 yards, when she collided ferociously with the Brazilian defender Andreia Rosa and helicoptered to the ground.

Immediately, Wambach signaled for assistance in the nationally televised match. Her left leg was immobilized in a brace, and she was taken off the field on a stretcher. Wambach was placed in an ambulance and taken to a San Diego hospital for X-rays, where the fractures were confirmed, Aaron Heifetz, a team spokesman, said by telephone.

Wambach Breaks Leg in Exhibition....