The U.S. Women’s National Team is through to the quarterfinals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup after a rigorous 2-1 win over Spain.

The game started thick and fast, as winger Tobin Heath went down inside the box and was awarded a penalty kick in the 7th minute. Megan Rapinoe stepped up and gave the USWNT a 1-0 lead. Spain didn’t wait long to equalize. Sending a solid pressing unit, Jennifer Hermoso scored just two minutes later to level the score. Spain’s 9th-minute goal was the first goal conceded by the USWNT defense in this year’s World Cup. Both teams after that disrupted a fluidity in passing with one another conceding chippy fouls, making the tension inside the stadium expand. Spain finished the game with 18 total fouls, compared to the United States’ four. In the end, both defenses and midfield were solidly compact, allowing few chances. Through halftime and 75 minutes of play, the U.S. was rewarded with another penalty kick, which Rapinoe put away in the 79th minute to give the U.S. a 2-1 win.

The United States will now face the hosts of this year’s World Cup, France. The French side was brought to extra-time in the Round of 16 game against Brazil, but prevailed nonetheless. The two teams are perhaps the most well-matched in terms of physical play, as the French side beat the United States in a friendly last January.

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“This is what everybody wanted,” said Rapinoe, according to Yahoo Sports. “This is one of the biggest games that you could dream about as a kid.”

The match is being played at Paris Saint-Germain’s stadium, Le Parc des Princes, and is expected to be a fully sold-out occasion. The match starts at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday and will be broadcasted on FOX Sports 1 and can also be streamed on FOX Sports Go.

According to FanDuel, the moneyline is sitting at +125 for the USA and +230 for France. The spread is in favor for the U.S. at -1, and the over/under is set at 2.5.

“So many times when we play in big games, it’s actually when I get more excited,” head coach Jill Ellis of the United States said, according to Yahoo Sports. “It means more, it matters more, there’s more at stake. And that’s why you do this. What a showcase it is. Let’s go for it.”

 

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