Team USA Moves on to World Cup Semis With 1-0 Win

27 Jun, 2015

The United States maintained their record of having reached every semi-final of the women’s World Cup after their 1-0 win over China on Friday set up a last four encounter with Germany.

The Americans came into the quarter-final in Ottawa missing two key players through suspension but proved far too strong for a young, defensively-minded Chinese side, who seemed more and more intimidated as the game went on.

Captain Carli Lloyd scored the winner in the 51st minute, jumping high to head home a long looping cross from defender Julie Johnston.

Ali Krieger also hit the post with a drive in the 73rd minute.

The win earned the Americans a semi-final slot next Tuesday in Montreal against Germany, who earlier beat France on penalties after their game finished 1-1 after extra time.

World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999, the Americans showed no signs of being hampered by the suspensions of first-choice midfielders Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe.

“We wanted to come out hard and strong from the start … the more pressure we put Chinaunder the more they coughed the ball up,” said Lloyd.

Tuesday’s match will be a repeat of the 2003 semi-final, which Germany won 3-0.

Reuters

Image USA Soccer WNT

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