Women’s World Cup: USA Shocks Germany, Advances To Finals

The US Women’s National Team stunned top-ranked Germany in a 2-0 upset in the semifinals of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in front of nearly 52,00 fans. The Americans are now one match away in clinching this year’s World Cup title and will face either Japan or England for the finals.

Captain Carli Lloyd has been the story so far in USWNT’s last two must-win games. After scoring the header against China to reach the semis, she has once again lifted the US over the heavily-favoured Germans after scoring the goal in the penalty kick and creating an opportunity for Kelley O’Hara to bury the two-time champions.

Germany had a great start, but as opposed to what they are known for, the Germans played defence in the first half instead of setting up attacks, while US became the aggressor. However, Jill Ellis’ squad did not convert any of their kicks in the first period thanks to Germany’s goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who made the game-winning save in their penalty shootout against France. Angerer, who was labelled as the Germans’ Hope Solo, made a number of saves to keep her team in the game including Megan Rapinoe an Alex Morgan’s attempts in the opening minutes.

After a scoreless first half, Lloyd and O’Hara turned the tables for US, who had been so many times doubted about its chances in the World Cup. The 32-year-old opened the scoring with a penalty kick in the 69th minute after Morgan was taken down at the edge of the box. Referees called it penalty although replays suggested that the foul happened outside the box. Nonetheless, Lloyd capitalized sending the kick pass through Angerer.

The Americans did not take any chance to relax after the first goal of the match as if they knew the Germans might strike a comeback in the closing minutes. In the 84th minute mark, O’Hara dropped the exclamation point after scoring from a tap pass courtesy of Lloyd. Ellis was very proud of her team’s effort after surviving an action-packed match with the Germans.

“It’s not about the system. It’s about the players on the field. They did a great job,” Ellis said after the match via Fox Sports. “They played their hearts out with guts tonight. I’m so, so pleased for them. We prepared very, very well. We watched a lot of film and broke it down, but the players executed. That’s the key.”

The German team who scored 20 points in their last five matches in the tournament clawed their way to make a goal and the golden chance came in the 59th minute mark when USA’s Julie Johnston was yellow carded for bringing down Alexandra Popp. With the opportunity to finally take control of the match, the Germans missed its first penalty kick in the World Cup after striker Celia Sasic kicked a well wide shot in front of USWNT’s goalkeeper Solo, who was barely tested in their semifinals battle.