BRASILIA, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Megan Rapinoe #15 of United States goes up for the ball against Sweden in the second half as Carli Lloyd #10 of United States looks on during the Women's Football Quarterfinal match at Mane Garrincha Stadium on Day 7 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 12, 2016 in Brasilia, Brazil (Photo: Getty)
The U.S. Women’s National Team has made it to the 2019 World Cup to try to defend their title after beating England 2-1 in the semifinals on Tuesday. This makes it three straight appearances for the United States in the finals, the first time in Women’s World Cup history. An hour before kickoff when the lineups were announced, all US fans were shocked to see Megan Rapinoe on the bench instead of starting. Before Tuesday, she had scored four goals in two games for the US. But head coach Jill Ellis seemed to get the call right, as Rapinoe’s replacement, Christen Press, scored the opener for U.S. just 10 minutes into the game. It was later reported that Rapinoe was left out of the squad battling a hamstring injury.
The US held the lead for a little under 10 minutes however, with Ellen White scoring her sixth goal of the competition and was leading the golden boot race for most goals in the 2019 World Cup. Another 10 minutes passed to find Alex Morgan scoring her sixth goal of the tournament on her birthday and giving the US the winner. She is currently tied with White for the golden boot race, with Rapinoe slightly trailing them with five. After halftime passed, England won a penalty kick in the 84th minute after a VAR replay, but US Goalkeeper Alyssa Naehe saved it and gave US the win. The game was practically over when England’s Millie Bright received a red card shortly after the missed penalty. US goes on to face the winner of Sweden and the Netherlands on Sunday.
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With this win over England, the US breaks Norway’s record for the longest winning streak in the World Cup. Despite Rapinoe missing the semifinal, she feels that it’s just a minor injury.
“I feel like I’ll be ready for the final,” Rapinoe said on the FOX broadcast after the game, according to CBS Sports. The US has already beaten Sweden in the World Cup group stage 2-0, and the Netherlands are a Cinderella story type team, as they have never made it to a semifinal in their World Cup history. The Netherlands beat Sweden in their latest competitive match, winning 2-1 over them and being crowned the 2017 European Champions.
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