Lloyd Lifts U.S. to Final
- Updated: June 30, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
Carli Lloyd scored from the spot to send the U.S. to the Women’s World Cup Final after beating Germany 2-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Lloyd, who also scored in Friday’s quarterfinal win over China, converted her penalty in the 69th minute after Alex Morgan was fouled on the edge of the area. Lloyd went on to assist on the U.S.’s second goal, which was scored by former Boston Breakers forward Kelley O’Hara in the 84th minute.
Despite controlling much of the match, the U.S. flirted with danger in the 60th minute when Celia Sasic sent her penalty try wide moments after Julie Johnson fouled Alexandra Popp inside the box.
By blanking Germany – which hadn’t been kept off the board during the tournament – the U.S extended its clean sheet streak to 513 minutes.
The U.S. will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between England and Japan on Sunday at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.
Holiday and Rapinoe back: The U.S. welcomed back Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe on Tuesday after both were forced to sit out last Friday’s quarterfinal against China due caution accumulation. Holiday went the full 90 while Rapinoe came off in the 80th minute for Abby Wambach.
Ugly collision: A scary moment unfolded in the 29th minute when Germany’s Lena Goessling sent a free kick into the area, where Popp and Morgan Brian both challenged for it in the air. But in the process, their heads collided, leaving Popp bloodied and Brian noticeably woozy in the aftermath. Both players were attended to by medical staff, and returned to the match shortly after.
The game could’ve changed if…Sasic converted her penalty. After the U.S. dominated much of the match, a goal from Germany could’ve been a dagger in the collective psyche of the U.S. Had the German’s taken the lead, they likely would’ve retreated into a shell, and forced the U.S. to undertake some serious work to get back on level terms. And if they conceded for the first time since the first game of the tournament, the U.S. might not have played with the same confidence and swagger they displayed in the latter stages.
Familiar territory awaits: The U.S. will be playing in a record fourth Women’s World Cup final when they meet the winner of tomorrow’s England-Japan semifinal. The U.S. is 2-1 all-time in the final, with wins in 1991 and 1999.
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