It was the first World Cup game between the teams since the final in 1999, when the United States won the trophy in a penalty-kick shootout. “Collectively from the top all the way down it was fantastic and phenomenal team performance”.
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Could Friday’s victory over China – a 1-0 victory, but one that never seemed in doubt – finally be that turning point for the United States at this Women’s World Cup? The USWNT attack didn’t falter under the stingy Steel Roses.
US were dominating possession and beginning to put lots of pressure on the China goal but didn’t create any clear-cut chances – the story of the Americans World Cup so far. And they recognized we needed to step up.
On 20 minutes, the USA came close to breaking the deadlock after a cross from Tobin Heath was met by the diving header of Kelly O’Hara, whose effort was inches away from the target.
Lloyd said she struggled early in World Cup games trying to find her role, but the recent addition of Morgan Brian has freed her to play aggressively.
“They’re Germans, it won’t be a disadvantage for them”, quipped Ellis.
“I don’t think it impacts the players at this level”, she said, noting her side had had two days fewer than China to prepare for the quarter-final. Former players, analysts, fans, people who only discovered soccer last week – everyone but Ellis recognized that it wasn’t working.
“She’s the best goalkeeper in the world”.
Lloyd stayed active in the 46th minute when she played a layoff header to Morgan in the box. I didn’t do well in tactics. “We didn’t fulfill that so it’s a pity”.
Germany advanced with a 0-0 (5-4) win over France in penalty kicks.
France had strong support among the crowd of just under 25,000 in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal.
Carli Lloyd was given the captain’s armband and responded by scoring the game’s only goal with a powerful header in the second half.
For China, reaching the last eight has been a positive step back to the elite of women’s football, but coach Hao Wei says there is no question of Friday’s game in Ottawa being about revenge.
Friday’s feeling was very different from that four years ago, when his miss saw Argentina lose to Uruguay in the quarterfinals by the same shootout scoreline.
Their opponents Germany made it through to their fifth consecutive semi-final after they beat France 5-4 on penalties after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes of play.
Ellis dismissed the suggestion her team might be fresher than Germany, who had to play 120 minutes on Friday. Their hard work has certainly paid off, with three wins and a tie under their shinguards.
“We had to run after it and France were really ahead of us in the first half”. China didn’t formulate a credible attack in the first half, while the Americans built one after another. The two players were slapped with automatic suspensions when they got their yellow cards during the team’s game against Colombia.
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The victors will now face Germany in their semi-final match, which is set to take place on June 30. Let’s hope the same is true of the United States’ next match against the Germans on Tuesday. But their biggest test comes on Tuesday with Germany on tap.
