The United States Women’s National Soccer Team qualified for its first FIFA Women’s World Cup Final since it won the title in 1999 with a 3-1 semi-final win over France on Wednesday. The two-time world champions will now meet Japan for the tournament decider in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday.
Lauren Cheney put the USA up 1-0 in the 9th minute. However, a very potent French attack that outshot the USA 25 to 11 during the match equalized through Sonia Bombpastor in the 55th. USA forward Abby Wambach headed in the eventual game-winner int he 79th while Alex Morgan eluded four French defenders to seal the victory in the 82nd.
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O’Reilly (17-Tobin Heath, 87), 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd (15-Megan Rapinoe, 65), 12-Lauren Cheney; 8-Amy Rodriguez (13-Alex Morgan, 56), 20-Abby Wambach
Subs not used: 2-Heather Mitts, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 14-Stephanie Cox, 16-Lori Lindsey, , 18-Nicole Barnhart, 21-Jill Loyden
France: 16-Berangere Sapowicz; 11-Laure Lepailleur, 4-Laura Georges, 5-Ophelie Meilleroux, 8-Sonia Bompastor; 6-Sandrine Soubeyrand (capt.) (12-Elodie Thomis, 78), 15-Elise Bussaglia; 10-Camille Abily, 14-Louisa Necib, 17-Gaetane Thiney; 18-Marie-Laure Delie (9-Eugenie Le Sommer, 46)
Subs not used: 1-Celine Deville, 21-Laetitia Philippe, 2-Wendie Renard, 3-Laure Boulleau, 7-Corine Franco, 13-Caroline Pizzala, 19-Sandrine Bretigny, 20-Sabrina Viguier
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