U.S. Women’s National Team Defeats Germany In Stunning Fashion

In their best match of the tournament, the USWNT showed that they are the real deal, defeating Germany, the hottest team in the World Cup, 2-0.

USWNT Defeats Germany

There have been plenty of question marks with the U.S. Women’s National Team. In pool play, they did not look sharp. Offensively, they have too many great players to be held to zero points by Sweden. And defensively, they looked good, but have had key mental lapses, which was evident in their first match against Australia. However, everything changed last night, when the USWNT showed that they are the real deal, defeating the favorite, Germany, in spectacular fashion.

Ultimately, they proved that their defense was not just a fluke, as USWNT shut down the best offense in the tournament to record their fifth consecutive shutout: Germany has scored 20 goals throughout the World Cup. The defense and Hope Solo, who got her 89th career shutout in international play last night, have kept opponents to zero points for 513 consecutive minutes, which is a team record in the World Cup.

But the offense also played an incredible game, with two early chances by Alex Morgan and Julie Johnston that Germany goalie Nadine Angerer beautifully saved. However, the real momentum shifter happened in the 59th minute, when Johnston received a yellow card for yanking Alexandra Popp down in the box. This resulted in a penalty kick by Celia Sasic, which she pushed wide despite faking out Solo.

Sasic would go on to regret missing the kick — the first time Germany has missed one in World Cup history — as Annike Khran fouled Alex Morgan at the 67th minute, which gave the U.S. a penalty kick. And the nerves did not get to Carli Lloyd, as she safely faked out Angerer and put the ball in the back of the net.

The USWNT closed out the match 15 minutes later, when Lloyd made a fantastic move deep in Germany’s territory and got the ball to Kelley O’Hara, who tapped it in. There was simply nothing that Angerer could do, as O’Hara scored her first goal in international play.

Next, U.S.A will play either Japan or England on Sunday, with the winner being crowned the World Cup champion.