USA Defeats Germany 2-0 to Reach World Cup Final
Carli Lloyd scored on a penalty kick in the 69th minute and assisted Kelley O'Hara on a goal in the 84th minute to lead the United States to a 2-0 win over world #1 ranked Germany to clinch a spot in the championship game at the Women's World Cup.
Lloyd scored her goal after Alex Morgan was fouled by Anneke Krahn just inside the penalty box. Replays showed the foul may have occurred just outside the box. But Lloyd coolly nailed the kick into the upper right corner to give the Americans the lead.
That goal came just nine minutes after Celia Sasic missed a penalty kick that would have given Germany the lead. It was the first miss of a PK by Germany in Women's World Cup history. Julie Johnston drew a yellow card for the foul well inside the box. U. S. goalie Hope Solo dove to her left, leaving a wide open net, but Sasic's shot missed to her left to keep the game scoreless.
O'Hara scored the clincher just ten minutes after entering the game as a substitute, cutting in front of a German defender to steer Lloyd's pass past Nadine Angerer to give the Americans an insurmountable lead.
The Americans dominated the first half but Germany turned the U. S. away, including three first half saves by Angerer. Germany dominated time of possession in the second half but could never get a shot on goal.
The Americans now advance to the final against either defending champion Japan or England. That match will be played Wednesday.