MONTREAL, Canada (June 30, 2015) - The U.S. Women's National Team downed FIFA No.1-ranked Germany 2-0 at Olympic Stadium to advance to the Final of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. It will be the fourth World Cup final appearance for the USA.
The first half was a balanced affair with both teams pressing and having opportunities to get on the board yet neither was able to capitalize. In the second half, things got going when U.S. defender Julie Johnston was called for a foul inside the penalty box in the 59th minute for pulling down Alexandra Popp. Celia Sasic stepped up to take the penalty kick but missed wide left to keep the game scoreless.
Almost ten minutes later, Alex Morgan got fouled in the box and it was the USA's turn to attempt a PK. Carli Lloyd confidently netted the shot to give the USA the lead before assisting on Kelley O'Hara's 84th-minute strike - the first of her international career - to secure the U.S. win.
Hope Solo and the USA back line continued to shut down opponents and has now kept a scoreless streak for 513 straight minutes (a span of more than five-and-a-half matches) in this year's World Cup, the longest clean sheet streak in U.S. World Cup history.
It was Solo's 10th clean sheet in World Cup play, tying Brianna Scurry's record for shutouts in World Cup competition. The 10 clean sheets in a World Cup are not only a U.S. record, but also a FIFA Women's World Cup record.
The WNT will vie for its third Women's World Cup title on Sunday, July 5 at 4 p.m. PT, when it takes on the winner of the other Semifinal between England and Japan, which will be determined tomorrow, at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada. The tournament Final will be broadcast live on FOX and Telemundo. Fans can also follow in-game updates on Twitter (@ussoccer_wnt and @ussoccer_esp).
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA - Carli Lloyd (penalty kick), 69th minute: Germany's Annike Khran was called for a foul against Alex Morgan in the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty circle. Carli Lloyd stepped forward and sent former FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer the wrong way as she blasted her shot into the left side of the goal. USA 1, GER 0
USA - Kelley O'Hara (Carli Lloyd), 84th minute: Meghan Klingenberg played a great ball from th outside of the area to Carli Lloyd inside the right side of the Germany box. Lloyd made a strong move to the endline and played the ball across the face of goal where Kelley O'Hara tapped it in with her right foot to finish the opportunity cap a sterling team move by the USA with her first career WNT goal. USA 2, GER 0 (FINAL)
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
GER- Nadine Angerer, 7th minute: A corner kick from Megan Rapinoe went to the middle of the six-yard box by the near post where Julie Johnston was in great position to head it home. Germany's goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was well placed to come up with a huge save and get the ball out of danger.
USA - Hope Solo, 8th minute: Alexandra Popp had a clear shot at goal from the left side of the USA box, sending a ball to the near post. However, Hope Solo was prepared and jumped high to deflect the ball over the crossbar for a Germany corner.
GER - Nadine Angerer, 15th minute: Alex Morgan split two defendersas she broke into the Germany box from midfield. Morgan sent a shot straight towards Angerer, who made a solid stop with her foot to deflect the shot away.
Milestones:
- Hope Solo recorded her 89th career shutout. It was the fifth straight World Cup clean sheet for the USA, and Solo's 10th in World Cup play, tying Brian Scurry for the most by a U.S. goalkeeper.
- Carli Lloyd is the third U.S. WNT player to score in three straight games in a World Cup, joining Michelle Akers (1991) and Abby Wambach (twice; in 2003 and 2011).
- The U.S. now holds a 19-4-7 all-time record against Germany, outscoring the Germans 62-29. The USA hasn't lost to Germany since 2003 and has gone 7-0-5 since then.
- Kelley O'Hara made her third career World Cup appearance in the second half, and scored her first career international goal for the WNT.
- The USA will be making its fourth appearance in a FIFA Women's World Cup Final. Germany is the only other team to have reached the final that amount of times.