Losing just isn’t their cup of tea
Goalie Naeher preserves late lead as Americans reach third straight final
DECINES-CHARPIEU, France — An evening that began with intrigue concerning a high-profile absence ended in high drama and full glory for the U.S. national soccer team Tuesday as it defeated England 2-1 and advanced to the Women’s World Cup final for the third consecutive time.
When it ended, when seven minutes of stoppage time expired and some 20,000 U.S. fans were able to exhale, a mass of red-shirted Americans dashed toward goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
The quietest member of a personality-laden squad, and also the most scrutinized because of her lack of experience in major tournaments, Naeher had preserved the lead in the 85th minute by smothering Steph Houghton’s penalty kick.
And with that save, plus goals by Christen Press and Alex Morgan, the Americans continued their quest for a fourth World Cup trophy. At this same venue Sunday, they will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between the Netherlands and Sweden.
“We have put so much into this journey together,” Morgan said, “and now we have one more game to close it out.”
The top-ranked U.S. team again did not have an easy time of it, winning by the same score for the third straight knockout game. It did it without Megan Rapinoe, the sensational and controversial forward who was sidelined with what she described as a slight hamstring strain. She expects to be available Sunday.
England lost in the semifinals for the second straight World Cup.
“They are the standard-bearer,” England coach Phil Neville said. “Eventually we will catch the USA. But at the moment, they are the best team. and they are the best team because of that winning mentality.”
U.S. coach Jill Ellis said her players “find a way. I attribute that to the mental strength of the culture, the environment, the history, the tradition. They are vetted in pressure. You saw that tonight. The resolve is fantastic.”
Depth also helped. In Rapinoe’s place, Press scored her first goal of the tournament. After England drew even a few minutes later, Morgan notched the game-winner in the 31st minute as the Americans extended their unbeaten streak in World Cup games decided in regulation to a tournament-record 16.
The United States has not lost this year since an away defeat to France in January.
The Americans also survived two officiating decisions involving instant replay. On the first, England’s apparent goal was disallowed because Ellen White was offside before scoring. On the second, England was awarded a penalty kick because the video assistant referee spotted a foul on Becky Sauerbrunn.
Houghton, the English captain, did not strike it well, and Naeher was in position to make the save.
“I try to stay focused,” said Naeher, who has performed in the shadows of former goalkeeping stars Briana Scurry and Hope Solo. “Take a few deep breaths. Focus. I felt I just had to try to get a good jump on it, try to get a good read and hope to make a save.”
Her teammates have never wavered in their support and said they were not surprised Naeher rose to the occasion.
“The moment of her life,” Rapinoe said.
“The player who needed to come up big,” defender Abby Dahlkemper said, “came up big.”
Naeher also made a terrific save in the first half, soaring to tip away Keira Walsh’s long-range blast.
At the other end, the Americans did what they do best: score first and score early.
In the 10th minute, Tobin Heath played the ball forward toward Rose Lavelle. Instead of taking possession, Lavelle dummied it, allowing it to roll behind her and through to the overlapping Kelley O’Hara.
The right back lofted a cross to the back side. Lucy Bronze, England’s celebrated defender, had lost track of Press, who, with perfect placement, headed the ball into the near top corner.
Previous early goals had come in the 12th, 11th, third, seventh and fifth minutes.
Badly outplayed to that point, England answered in the 19th on a terrific sequence. Beth Mead’s leftside cross bounced nicely for White. Slipping into a channel between center backs Sauerbrunn and Dahlkemper, the striker flicked the ball well out of the reach of Naeher and into the far side of the net for her sixth goal of the tournament.
The Americans went back ahead on a sequence that began behind the center circle. Dahlkemper launched a magnificent, 40yard ball to Press’ chest at the sideline.
Press connected with Lindsey Horan. As Horan turned, Morgan made her run into the heart of the penalty area. She gained inside position on Demi Stokes and met Horan’s pinpoint delivery for an 8yard header past Carly Telford, who was playing in place of injured starter Karen Bardsley.
Against England, Morgan celebrated by mimicking a sip of tea.
“I wanted to keep it interesting,” she said. “Megan Rapinoe has the best celebrations, so I had to try to step up this game. This team has had so much thrown at them, at us. We didn’t take the easy route to the final. So had some tea.”
In the 69th minute, White appeared to score another equalizer, splitting Dahlkemper and Sauerbrunn again and breaking in alone before beating Naeher with a low finish.
As England celebrated, the video assistant referee went to work. Referee Edina Alves Batista delayed the restart and waited for the video assistant referee to review the play.
The infraction was clear enough that Batista did not need to see it for herself and the VAR ruling erased the goal.
VAR came to the fore again near the end when Sauerbrunn clipped White in front of the net. This time, the call went for England. Naeher, though, preserved the lead.
Ellis said she took the theme of the tournament — “Dare to Shine” — and added “brightest” to the end.
“I said to her, ‘She shined tonight.’ She was the brightest. People are starting to see glimpses of what I see every day in training in terms of her capabilities. She is making her own mark and creating her own legacy.”