Page 30 - Irish Examiner USA

sportsexaminer
30

2019

3rd, USA Through To World Cup
July

| Final After Defeating England
EXAMINER teph Houghton had an Becky Sauerbrunn made con-

penalty
84th-minute
tact with her trailing leg in
IRISH Ssaved as England missed the box. captain
However,
out on a place in the Women’s
World Cup final, losing 2-1 to Houghton – on spot-kick
the United States. duty after Nikita Parris
Phil Neville’s side headed missed England’s last two –
to Lyon with dreams of produced a poor effort from
becoming the first senior 12 yards, with Alyssa Naeher
England team – male or making the save low to her
female – to contest a World right.
Cup final since 1966.
However, the Lionesses’ The US will now be back
third penalty miss of the tour- at the Groupama Stadium on
nament proved costly. Sunday to take on the win-
Christen Press deservedly ners of the second semi-final
headed USA in front after 10 between Holland and
minutes, but Ellen White’s Sweden.
sixth goal of the campaign England – who had Millie
pulled England level. Bright sent off for a second
Alex Morgan then bookable offence before full-
matched White in the race time – will face the loser of
for the Golden Boot with the that match in Nice a day ear-
goal that restored the US lier, now hoping to achieve a
advantage in the 31st minute, third-place finish for a second
before the England forward successive World Cup.
had a second-half effort disal- USA made a bright start
lowed on a marginal offside and fired a warning in the minor injury to Karen headed home by Morgan, go against them, England
call after VAR was consulted. fourth minute when Rose Bardsley. who beat Demi Stokes to the were then aided by VAR after
England were then the Lavelle nutmegged Bright US coach Jill Ellis had ball. White, trying to apply the
beneficiaries of a second VAR and struck a shot that was sprung a surprise with her Walsh drew a full-stretch finish to Stokes’ cross, went
intervention, when White parried by Carly Telford, team selection by leaving diving save from Naeher with down in the box under pres-
was awarded a penalty after who started in goal due to a Megan Rapinoe – scorer of a 25-yard strike after 33 min- sure from Sauerbrunn.
both goals in the 2-1 quarter- utes, but England lived dan- Having watched footage
final victory over France – gerously when Telford’s poor of the incident back pitchside,
out of the starting XI, but it attempt to pass to Bright was referee Edina Alves Batista
was replacement Press who seized upon by Press, who deemed White to have been
opened the scoring. sent a shot wide from the fouled, pointed to the spot
Kelley O’Hara’s cross from edge of the box. and Houghton stepped up.
the right wing found Press Neville’s side then thought But the change in taker did
unmarked at the back post they had equalized as Jill not alter the outcome as the
and the forward placed a Scott flicked Walsh’s pass for- captain saw her attempt from
header beyond Telford, with ward to play White in and 12 yards kept out.
the delivery having floated she slotted past Naeher, but Things then got worse for
over the head of closest the effort was ruled out for England as Bright was sent
defender Lucy Bronze, who offside following a VAR off, being shown a second
will feel she should have check. yellow card following a slide
done better. Having had that decision tackle on Morgan. C
The 10th-minute goal was
just reward for the PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Americans’ dominance of the Friday August 9th
early exchanges, but England Liverpool v Norwich City (3pm)
hit back with their first real Saturday August 10th
chance nine minutes later, AFC Bournemouth v Sheffield United
when Beth Mead’s low deliv- Burnley v Southampton
ery teed up White for a side- Crystal Palace v Everton
footed finish. Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
After Sauerbrunn went
close to scoring an own goal, Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
as she attempted to intercept Watford v Brighton & Hove Albion
Keira Walsh’s ball into the West Ham United v Manchester City
box, the Americans restored Sunday August 11th
their lead when Lindsey Manchester United v Chelsea (11.30am)
Horan’s chipped cross was Newecastle United v Arsenal (9am)