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US star Wambach carried off field with leg injury

  -- The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO (AP) Leading scorer Abby Wambach was carted off the field on a stretcher with an apparent left leg injury in the first half of the U.S. women's match against Brazil on Wednesday night.

Wambach collided with Andrei Rosa as they were both going for the ball in the 33rd minute. Wambach and Rosa both went down and Wambach began to immediately signal to the sideline that she was hurt.

Wambach was on the turf for nearly 6 minutes and appeared to be in pain. Paramedics fitted her left leg with an inflatable brace and carted her off to an ambulance.

There was no immediate word on Wambach's injury, but team spokesman Aaron Heifetz said Wambach was being taken to a hospital for X-rays.

Andrei Rosa got up after a minute and continued in the game.

The injury could be costly for the United States, the defending Olympic champion. Wambach, who has 99 career goals, leads the team in scoring this year with 19 goals and is one of the most experienced players on a young squad.

The United States, playing its last match before the Olympics, opens defense of its Olympic title Aug. 6 against Norway.