USA backs it up vs. England
LYON, France – Alex Morgan threw herself her own birthday party.
A tea party, if you will. Morgan became the first player to score a goal on her birthday – her 30th, for those keeping track – then threw a bit of shade by pretending to sip a cup of tea in celebration. But it’s only arrogant if you can’t back it up, and the U.S. women most certainly did Tuesday night, earning a spot in their third consecutive World Cup final with a 2-1 victory over England.
Oh, and all those folks who’ve been dissing Alyssa Naeher because she’s not Hope Solo or Briana Scurry? You owe her an apology.
Becky Sauerbrunn clipped Ellen White from behind in the box in the 83rd minute, causing White to whiff, and England was given a penalty after a VAR review.
But Naeher made a terrific save on Steph Houghton’s penalty kick, diving to her right and snagging the ball to preserve the win.
White had another goal, which would have been her second of the night, disallowed by VAR in the 67th.
The U.S. women will play either the Netherlands or old foe Sweden in Sunday’s final, also here in Lyon. The second semifinal is Wednesday night.
Anything can happen in a final, but it’s hard to see this ending without the Americans at the top of the podium, hoisting the World Cup trophy for a fourth time. They’ve been unflappable in the face of lofty expectations from their fans, accusations of arrogance from their opponents, Twitter rage from their president and, oh, yeah, a shocking lineup change ahead of the semifinal.
Megan Rapinoe, who was on the receiving end of President Donald Trump’s itchy Twitter finger last week, didn’t start against England, and all U.S. Soccer would say was that it was not for disciplinary reasons.
Rapinoe, who had scored all four of the U.S. goals in the previous two knockout games, came out for warmups but didn’t do anything, spending most of the time standing on the sidelines, looking very much like someone who is injured. Photos of her from training Monday also showed her leg taped.
But the Americans have talked often about their depth – remember Ali Krieger’s quote that set so many off about the best team and the second-best team? – and Christen Press, Rapinoe’s replacement, made coach Jill Ellis look like a genius in the 10th minute when she scored on a header.
Kelley O’Hara had played a beautiful ball from the other side of the field, and Rose Lavelle acted as a dummy, letting it go by and drawing away the attention of the defenders.
Press got a head on it, and there was little backup goalkeeper Carly Telford could do as the ball settled into the upper left corner.
Telford was playing because Karen Bardsley, who had given up just one goal, has a hamstring injury.
But England has developed some swagger under coach Phil Neville, who took over 18 months ago, and the Three Lionesses came into the game truly believing they could make their first final at a major international tournament. They’d won the She Believes Cup tournament ahead of the Americans in March, and Neville said that made his players believe they could win other, bigger, tournaments.
Sure enough, White scored a gorgeous goal in the 19th. Beth Mead crossed it from the left side, over O’Hara’s foot, and White side-volleyed it. The ball banged off the far post and into the net, past Naher’s outstretched hand to tie the game.
There is a reason Morgan is considered by some to be the best player in the world.
In the 32nd, Lindsey Horan chipped a ball into the box, and Morgan buried it past Telford for her sixth goal of the tournament.
She then stood and casually sipped at an imaginary tea cup, pinkie finger properly extended.
Again, it’s only arrogant if you can’t back it up, and the Americans are now unbeaten at the World Cup since the 2011 final, and have won their last 11.