Montreal: Carli Lloyd and Kelley O’Hara both scored in the second half to put the United States into the Women’s World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over top-ranked Germany. Wearing the captain’s armband, Lloyd got the first on 69 minutes from a penalty kick with defender O’Hara scoring her first-ever goal for the Americans six minutes from time yesterday. The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999 and ranked second in the world, will play either defending champions Japan or England in the final at Vancouver on July 5.
Germany’s Celia Sasic, the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, missed a penalty on 60 minutes that was awarded after Julie Johnston pulled down Alexandra Popp in the box. Sasic send the shot low and just wide of Hope Solo in the US goal. And six minutes later, Alex Morgan also missed a chance to break the deadlock when she sent the ball just wide of the German goal. USA were then awarded a penalty when Morgan was brought down by defender Annike Krahn in the box.
And Lloyd made no mistake, stepping up and sending the ball into the corner of the net for her third goal in as many games as ’keeper Nadine Angerer dived the opposite way. Abby Wambach, came on 10 minutes from time in place of Megan Rapinoe. And minutes later, Lloyd pulled clear of her marker, crossing to O’Hara, who fired in the winner.
Germans seek 3rd-place solace
As the Americans prepare for their second straight final on Sunday in Vancouver against either champions Japan or England, Germany prepare to play the losers in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday.
“We have to get over it fast. We want to have a nice conclusion to this tournament, take the third place and return home with our heads held high,” said the 51-year-old coach Silvia Neid, who is stepping down after the tournament.
Germany were beaten 0-2 by the USA in the first semifinal.“We are among the best four teams in the world. Maybe it depended on the penalty, maybe not. This team has given everything they have today, it wasn’t enough,” she said.“We’re going to have to support Celia,” Neid added.
“She shot two penalties against France. Today she missed. That type of thing happens in sport. She will have gotten over that by Saturday.”Neid has either coached or co-coached Germany to World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007, as well as five European titles, and held her job despite Germany’s shock exit in the quarterfinals from the 2011 World Cup at home.
“I think it will have a positive effect, you can’t walk through life winning every match,” the coach said. “It’s always good if you have to overcome a defeat because you can develop further. And I’m confident the players will do that. I’m absolutely certain they will develop,” she said.
