Women’s World Cup 2011 – USA vs France
Semifinals – Match: USA vs France
Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Kick-off Time: 16:00 GMT
Venue: Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany
So, don’t forget to Watch USA vs France live on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 16:00 GMT. The winner will face either Japan or Sweden in the Finals on Sunday.
The United States advanced to the semifinals by beating Brazil 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie in extra time. Wambach tied it with a magnificent, leaping header in the 122nd minute.
France advanced to the semis by beating England 4-3 on penalties in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals last Saturday. The game ended 1-1 in extra time.
UPDATE: Full Time: USA 3 – 1 France. The U.S. defeated France 3-1 to reach its first trip to the World Cup Finals since winning it in 1999. USA will now face Japan in the Women’s World Cup 2011 Final as Japan stunned Sweden 3-1 in the later match.
(Via ESPN) – Two inspired substitutions and the in-form Abby Wambach helped the USA overcome France 3-1 to seal their place in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday.
The USA needed just nine minutes to make their mark on the game with Heather O’Reilly outpacing Laura Georges to get free down the left and whip in a cross to Cheney, who just got ahead of Sonia Bompastor to stab the ball home.
But France rallied and, with Louisa Necib pulling the strings, went close with Gaetane Thiney forcing USA goalkeeper Hope Solo into a good save. They went even closer as Bompastor shook the crossbar after a clever free-kick found her free on the edge of the box.
Just before half-time, Wambach nearly repeated her heroics of the quarter-final against Brazil, as she found herself on the end of a Christie Rampone high ball, only to head wide.
After the break, France continued to push forward and nearly levelled the scores within a minute as Necib slotted the ball through to Thiney, who took too long over her shot and was closed down. However, the equaliser came soon after through Bompastor as her cross flew straight in past Solo, who had been distracted by the run of Thiney.
Elise Bussaglia had a rasping shot blocked, but the USA had the best chance to go ahead again as substitute Megan Rapinoe’s dipping free-kick was saved low down by Berangere Sapowicz and the goalkeeper, back in the side after suspension, saved the follow-up from Alex Morgan with her legs.
France continued to dominate possession but, with ten minutes left, were made to pay for their failure to break down the USA defence as a corner found the head of Wambach. The striker leapt above Sapowicz at the far post to put them ahead once more with a commanding header.
A one-goal lead became two, just two minutes later as Morgan (who had also been brought on from the bench) broke the offside trap. The striker was pushed wide by a heavy touch, but executed a wonderful chip over Sapowicz to seal the USA’s place in the final against Japan.
No Responses