Holders USA advanced to the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FIFAWWC) with a 2-1 victory over England as goalscorer Christen Press spoke about her Carli Lloyd inspired looping header.
On her goal and USA’s opener in the 10th minute she said “Honestly I have been watching Carli Lloyd on headers, so I channelled my inner Carli Lloyd.
“It’s crazy. It’s so, so emotional. What a team effort. For us to stay strong and composed and execute, and make it to the finals is incredible,” Press who came in for injured Rapinoe Megan said to FOX after the match.
It was a keenly contested game in which England matched the USA but the experience of the three time Champions shone through as they made it to yet another final.
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Following the opener by Press, England calmed the game down allowing them the opportunity to play their one-two touch football between the lines troubling the reigning Champions and were soon rewarded nine minutes after going behind to level the score.
Again, it was the clinical Ellen White with a very deft right footed finish off a low cross to send the ball beyond Naeher in goal for the US.
This gave the Lionesses more courage to go all out and they did. Putting pressure on the USA defence but couldn’t find the goal as the holders went ahead again. This time, it was through Birthday girl and inspirational captain, Alex Morgan.
Another inviting cross this time from the left of the USA attack in the 31st minute was headed in by Morgan beyond Carly Telford in the England goal as the USA went ahead for the second time in the match.
England tried to find the equaliser in the second period but couldn’t. It was however a drama filled half despite the lack of goals.
White again scored with a precise finish but on VAR review, she was marginally offside. She then won her side a penalty in the 85th minute which Steph Houghton took but was saved by Naeher. A few minutes later, Millie Bright was sent off for England for a second bookable offence on the birthday girl and eventual player of the match Alex Morgan.
The USA Captain Morgan (Above) had this to say at the end of the match “Alyssa Naeher, she should be the player of the match today. She saved our butts today. We needed to stick to our defence at the end and we did it quite well. I’m so proud of every player who stepped up tonight. Our bench is so deep, and we showed that tonight. How can you beat this?”
“I felt like England had a great game. We haven’t had an easy route to the final. Each tournament has given me something different and I’ve looked at it through a different lens (as a captain). I saw all my team-mates being so emotional, and I know it means so much to us. We’ve put so much into this journey together.”
USA will face the winner of tonight’s semi-final match between Sweden and Netherlands having advanced to a third successive FIFAWWC final as they hope to win it on European soil for the first time and also defend the title for the first time.
