US beats England to reach Women’s World Cup final

The United States of America’s women soccer team defeated England 2-1 in an entertaining match on Tuesday at the Stade de Lyon to qualify for their third successive World Cup final.

The US took a 10th-minute lead through Christen Press but England equalized through Ellen White nine minutes later.

Alex Morgan, joint top scorer in the competition with White, scored what proved to be the match-winner on 31 minutes.

The US team needed a VAR-disallowed goal and a late penalty save by Alyssa Naeher in the second half to deny the Lionesses, who had Millie Bright sent off in the 86th minute.

Both goals for the US came from headers off crosses with Press and Morgan finding the back of the net from Kelley O’Hara and Lindsey Horan deliveries respectively.

England’s White had been hailed as an instinctive striker by her coach, Phil Neville, and she lived up to her reputation, evading the attention of two defenders to nick the equalizer.

Her second goal was ruled offside due to her boot being on the wrong side of the trap. She however won the penalty which Houghton squandered.

Defeat means England have failed at the semi-final stage of a major tournament for a third time in a row, despite bossing the game and forcing US into an ultra-defensive five-player backline in the entire second half.

The US will be looking to win a record fifth, and back-to-back titles on Sunday when they face either Sweden or the Netherlands.