Johnston ‘lucky’ to avoid red card

Instead of ejection, ex-Santa Clara star gets second chance

Julie Johnston had been enjoying a dream Women’s World Cup as the U.S. team’s breakout star.

Then Germany’s Alexandra Popp got between the U.S. defender and the goal in a riveting semifinal Tuesday night in Montreal.

What happened next made Johnston cry — then eventually smile.

Johnston, a former Santa Clara University star, wept on the field after making her first error in Canada in the 59th minute when getting caught badly out of position and suffering “a defender’s worst nightmare,” as she told reporters after the Americans’ 2-0 controversyvictory.

“I wish I could have that moment back,” Johnston said. “It happened so fast.”

The referee’s decision will remain infuriating to the top-ranked Germans, who seemingly were on their way to Sunday’s final when Johnston pulled down Popp in the box, drawing a yellow caution card and giving Germany a penalty kick.

“She is lucky to have stayed in that game because that was as clear of a red card as I’ve seen,” Fox Sports commentator Alexi Lalas said.

Soccer rules state that a red card should be issued if a defender denies a clear, unobstructed goal-scoring chance. In this case, Johnston was the last U.S. defender between Popp and the goal.

Instead of an ejection, Johnston got a second chance. And encouragement from teammates.

The difficult moment underscored the unbreakable bonds on the U.S. team that will face Japan, which beat England 2-1, on Sunday in Vancouver.

While Johnston came undone, teammates came by to lift her spirits.

“No time for tears. We’ve got a game to play,’” Carli Lloyd said she told Johnston.

Former Cal star Alex Morgan said, “We have the best second-half team we could ever ask for, let’s take advantage of it.”

Then came fellow central defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who has formed a wonderful partnership with Johnston.

“Becky’s my backbone,” Johnston told reporters. “She keeps me sane. She’s a warrior. I just always want to play well for her and the back line. Seeing her look at me and smile rather than the opposite way made me take a deep breath and kind of re-evaluate that we’re still in this game. It was a lot of emotion, just to think it was a possibility that I hurt the team and it was on my shoulders.”

Moments later, it got even better. Johnston’s World Cup should have been over with a red card, but not only was she still on the field, Germany’s most potent offensive threat, Celia Sasic, botched the penalty kick.

Analysts credited U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo for icing Sasic by taking about three minutes to get ready for the kick. It was the first time in a Women’s World Cup that Germany had failed to convert on a penalty.

Johnston noticing.

“I was just trying to breathe, I’m not gonna lie,” she said. “My only thought was, ‘Ricochet, ricochet. Hope is the world’s best goalkeeper, she’s in goal, I just need to do my job.’ That’s all I could think about. And hold back some feelings.”

Johnston wasn’t even on the American roster that qualified for this World Cup. But she earned a starting role as a center back and has become a standout on a defense that has not allowed a goal in 513 minutes.

Now Johnston, who played for the Broncos from 2010-2013, won’t forget her mistake despite the favorable outcome.

“I think it’s important for me to learn from it,” she said. “I don’t want that to ever happen again. I put all that on me. We have one more game and I’ll focus and do what I need to do for the team.”

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