USA 2 (Lloyd 69′, O’Hara 84′) Germany 0
It was a tale of two penalties as the USA reached the Women’s World Cup final at the expense of Germany.
Tournament top scorer Celia Sasic missed her kick while USA captain Carli Lloyd scored hers, and Kelley O’Hara finished a neat team combination move off to send the twice-champions through.
The USA had recalled Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday after their suspensions, and the revamped line-up was their most impressive so far.
Alex Morgan had two excellent chances in the first half but found herself nervous as the goal opened up in front of her and Nadine Angerer loomed, fluffing both.
Germany were strangely subdued, with Sasic, Anja Mittag and substitute Dzsenifer Marozsan all struggling to make an impact.
The first half was interrupted by a clash of heads, leaving Morgan Brian looking very pale and Alexandra Popp bleeding heavily from a head wound. Both players continued in the game after a four-minute delay.
Sasic had the opportunity to put Germany ahead on the hour with a penalty kick, awarded after Julie Johnston hauled Popp down in the box. Hope Solo dived the wrong way, but Sasic placed her kick the wrong side of the post.
Then less than ten minutes later, Annike Krahn was unfortunate to see referee Teodora Albon point to the spot when she fouled Morgan just outside the area. Lloyd, however, made no mistake from 12 yards.
Substitute Kelley O’Hara wrapped it up, crowning some good teamwork by linking up with fellow sub Abby Wambach and Lloyd to prod home with a few minutes remaining.
HIGHLIGHTS
3′ CHANCE! Hmm, nobody marking Leupolz, who has a free header from a corner but that’s over the bar.
14′ CHANCE! Angerer does really well to block that shot from Alex Morgan, using her feet neatly.
29′ OUCH! Goessling swings in the free kick then there are two players down having smacked their heads together – they both seem conscious but there is blood. It’s Brian and Popp – Brian looks pale and Popp is bleeding heavily from her scalp.
35′ UGH! What a mess from the usually organised Germany defence. Angerer is left completely wrong-footed as Klingenberg’s shot hits a German head and out for a corner.
53′ CHANCE! Laudehr’s ball in to Mittag, in front of the USA back line, and Hope Solo throws herself towards it for a corner.
59′ PENALTY! Popp thinks she was pulled back – and the referee agrees! Johnston hauled her back, and that’s a penalty.
67′ PENALTY! Krahn says she fouled Morgan outside the box – which she did, but the referee has given the spot kick.
69′ GOAL! That’s how you take a penalty! Carli Lloyd scores!
60′ MISS! What a terrible penalty from Celia Sasic! Solo went the other way, to her left, and Sasic just put it past the other post!
84′ GOAL! And there’s Kelley O’Hara as the USA take advantage of so much space – Wambach holds it up and Lloyd does the work for the sub to tap home.
KEY STATISTICS
Celia Sasic’s miss was the first time Germany have ever missed a penalty at the Women’s World Cup.
Germany had never won a Women’s World Cup semi-final when conceding a goal.
TALKING POINT
It’s tedious to keep talking about refereeing, but those two penalty calls both favoured the USA, what with no red card for one and the other one even being given. Just as well O’Hara added that second, else nobody would be discussing anything else. Maybe it’s a video replay conversation that needs to be had?
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Megan Rapinoe (USA). Creative and hardworking.
RATINGS
USA – Solo 7, Klingenberg 7, Johnston 7, Sauerbrunn 7, Krieger 7, Holiday 8, Brian 7, Lloyd 8, Heath 7, Morgan 7, Rapinoe 9. Subs: O’Hara 7, Wambach 7.
Germany – Angerer 7, Bartusiak 7, Maier 7, Krahn 7, Laudehr 7, Mittag 7, Sasic 6, Leupolz 7, Popp 7, Goessling 7, Kemme 7. Subs: Marozsan 7.
