Megan Rapinoe on Friday admitted that it had been an unforgettable night after her brace took the US through to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the holders beating France 2-1 in Paris to puncture the hopes of the host nation.
Rapinoe’s free-kick five minutes into the quarter-final evaded a sea of bodies in the box on its way into the net to stun the home crowd at the Parc des Princes.
The US then soaked up pressure before delivering the knockout blow midway through the second half, when Rapinoe turned in Tobin Heath’s center, although Wendie Renard pulled a goal back for France to set up a tense finish.
Photo: AFP
Jill Ellis’ team held on and go through to a semi-final against England in Lyon, France, on Tuesday as they seek to retain their crown and win a fourth World Cup in eight editions.
“We didn’t have the best night on the ball, but the focus defensively and the willingness and the discipline to do what we did tonight is tremendous,” 33-year-old Rapinoe said.
“We were ruthless with our chances, so moving on to the next round, that’s really all that matters. It’s a game that we’ll never forget here in Paris,” she added.
Pink-haired Rapinoe has been crucial on the field, while dominating headlines off it thanks to her spat with US President Donald Trump over her refusal to attend any post-tournament reception at the White House.
She had already scored twice in the win over Spain in the previous round and is now the joint top scorer at the tournament with five goals.
Meanwhile, France will leave their own tournament with more than a few regrets.
Ellis praised the hosts, saying: “That’s a fantastic team we played tonight, and that is the most intense match I have ever been a part of.”
That will be scant consolation for France. They were the only team to defeat the US in the two years leading up to the World Cup, but they could not repeat the feat before an expectant home crowd.
Coach Corinne Diacre had been set the target of going all the way to the final on home soil, yet that always looked a tall order from the moment the draw was made in December last year and they were set on a quarter-final collision course with the best team in the world.
“It’s a failure in a footballing sense, we can’t hide from that. We are far from fulfilling our objective,” Diacre said. “I hope we at least won people’s hearts tonight and since the start of the tournament.”
Only once before had they even made the semi-finals, and for the second World Cup running their adventure ended in the last eight, the same stage at which they went out of the 2016 Olympics and the past three European Championships.
Having started this tournament with a first-half blitz against South Korea in the opening game, Les Bleues never really reached the same heights again.
Their defeat also means they will not go to next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The country’s leading sports daily, L’Equipe, had called this “the challenge of a lifetime,” and in that context conceding the opening goal so early was a disaster.
Alex Morgan was fouled outside the area and Rapinoe’s low delivery went in without taking a touch.
While France had lots of the ball without creating many clear chances, Samantha Mewis and Heath tested France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi just after halftime, and the US’ second goal arrived in the 65th minute.
Morgan and Heath combined down the right before the latter’s ball across goal was turned in by Rapinoe.
France did not give up and set up a frenzied finale as Renard evaded her marker to head in Gaetane Thiney’s flighted free-kick nine minutes from time for her fourth goal of the tournament.
However, the US saw out the victory.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just