An inspired performance from Carli Lloyd lifted the US into their second straight Women’s World Cup final with a 2-0 win over top-ranked Germany on Tuesday.
In a battle between the world’s top two teams, the US largely dominated in front of 51,000 largely US supporters at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
In a dramatic second half, Germany’s Celia Sasic missed a penalty-kick on 60 minutes, before Lloyd opened nine minutes later from the spot, with defender Kelley O’Hara sealing victory with her first-ever goal for the US six minutes from time.
Photo: AFP
“I came here to win this thing, not just be a participant that played in a World Cup,” said the 32-year-old Lloyd, who was wearing the captain’s armband. “It’s a good feeling. I’ve a really confident feeling in us winning it.”
The US, winners in 1991 and 1999 and ranked second in the world, are to play either defending champions Japan or England for the title in Vancouver on Sunday.
Japan beat the US in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to take the title four years ago.
Photo: AP
“We’re in a World Cup final, one opponent stands in our way, and for me, it doesn’t matter who it is,” US coach Jill Ellis said. “We’ll take either [England or Japan]. That sounds arrogant.”
The US dominated the first half, with forward Alex Morgan having the best chance to open, but Nadine Angerer held firm in the Germany goal. An effort from Morgan from close range also failed to find the target.
After the break, Germany’s Anja Mittag headed wide, but on the hour mark, the European champions had a golden chance when US defender Julie Johnston pulled down Alexandra Popp as the midfielder slipped in on the blindside.
Sasic, the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, send the shot low and just wide of Hope Solo in the US goal, to tears of relief from a distraught Johnston.
The US were then awarded a contested penalty when Morgan was brought down by defender Annike Krahn in a tackle that looked outside the penalty area.
And Lloyd made no mistake, stepping up and sending the ball into the corner of the net for her third goal in as many games as Angerer dived the opposite way.
The US’ all-time leading goalscorer, Abby Wambach, came on 10 minutes from time in place of Megan Rapinoe.
And minutes later, Lloyd pulled clear of her marker to run down the field, crossing to O’Hara, who entered in the 75th minute. O’Hara fired in the winner from close range, dumping former two-time winners Germany.
“It was clearly outside of the area and it can be seen quite clearly on television,” Germany coach Silvia Neid said of the penalty awarded against them. “I’m very sad about it, but I can’t change it.”
Germany had been bidding for a record third title and to match their men’s team who won the World Cup in Brazil last year.
“It was a great semi-final between two very strong teams at high level. Unfortunately, we were not dangerous enough when it came to the goal area and congratulations to the United States,” said Neid, who had a role in both Germany’s titles in 2003 and 2007.
Germany next prepare for the third-place playoff in Edmonton on Saturday.
“We’re going to have to support Celia,” Neid added. “She shot two penalties against France. Today, she missed. That type of thing happens in sport. She will have gotten over that by Saturday.”
It was the fourth World Cup meeting between the two superpowers — the US won 5-2 in 1991 and 3-2 in 1999, with Germany winning 3-0 in 2003 — and each time, the winner went on to take the title.
Japan and England were to play their semi-final in Edmonton yesterday.
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