Team USA won't get into war of words at Women's World Cup

Never mind the infamous punch and the trash talk: The U.S. women's team says the only motivation it needs against Colombia is the opportunity to move on at the Women's World Cup.

When the teams met nearly three years ago in the London Olympics, Colombia striker Lady Andrade sucker-punched U.S. star Abby Wambach in the eye, drawing a two-match suspension.

Then, in advance of tonight's game against the United States in the round of 16, Andrade made provocative statements about the Americans to a reporter.

"They belittle us. They think we're a team they're going to walk all over and it will be an easy game for them," Andrade said in an interview with USA Today Sports before leaning in to whisper her prediction: "We're going to beat them since they like to talk so much."

U.S. striker Alex Morgan wasn't taking the bait.

"Yes, we've seen what Lady said," Morgan said. "We've always respected them. We want to let our actions speak on the field."

Coach Jill Ellis said she understands Andrade's posturing but added that it has no impact on the United States' approach to the match.

"She should say she's going to win. Every athlete here is an elite athlete. At that level, you should have self-belief in what you can do," Ellis said. "Does it derail us? Do we focus on it? No. I just want to win the game."

The second-ranked Americans emerged from the so-called "Group of Death" on top and drew No. 28 Colombia in the round of 16. A victory over Las Cafeteras would move the U.S. to the quarterfinals against No. 16 China, which defeated Cameroon, 1-0, on Saturday.

The United States is seeking its third World Cup title and first since 1999.

Colombia was the third-place finisher in Group F behind France and England. But Las Cafeteras already pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets with a 2-0 group-stage victory over No. 3 France.

Colombia is making its second World Cup appearance after finishing 14th in Germany in 2011. But Colombia had never won a match in the sport's premier tournament before upsetting France.

The United States has won both its previous meetings with Colombia, including a 3-0 victory at the 2012 Olympics.

Colombia will be without goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda because of a pair of yellow cards, one against France and the second against England. Sepulveda was key to the team's victory over France with six saves.

It was unclear going into tonight's match whether Colombia would use 20-year-old Catalina Perez or 21-year-old Stafany Castano in goal. Castano started Colombia's group-stage opener, a 1-1 draw with Mexico.

Whichever team advances tonight will head to Ottawa for the quarterfinal match against China at Lansdowne Stadium on Saturday.

There have been questions about the U.S. attack, especially after only four goals in the group stage. The United States had 14 shots on goal in the group stage, good for No. 11 among the field.

"I think it's going to come, and we're building," Morgan said. "We used those group- stage games as building blocks, and we're just going to keep getting better."