USA to meet Japan in Women's World Cup final
Reuters - Wednesday 13 July 2011, 20:55
MOENCHENGLADBACH - The United
States struck twice late in the second half to beat France 3-1
on Wednesday and will face Japan in the Women's World Cup final.
The Japanese, playing in their first semi-final, beat Sweden
by the same score with a double from Nahomi Kawasumi, including
a spectacular 35-metre lob, to book a spot in Sunday's final.
On a rainy afternoon, the Americans, who won the title in
1991 and 1999 and have never finished below third place in a Women's World Cup, took an early lead when Lauren Cheney flicked
in a Carli Lloyd cross in the ninth minute.
France levelled after the break with a Sonia Bompastor cross
that bounced past U.S. keeper Hope Solo but two goals in three
minutes from Abby Wambach (79th) and Alex Morgan (82nd) secured
a third World Cup final appearance for the Americans.
"This is our journey, this is our dream," a beaming Wambach
said. "France are a great team. There were moments they were
outplaying us but I am so proud of this team."
"I know we are going to pull through. I have belief in this
team. Everybody is working for each other."
In Frankfurt, captain Homare Sawa turned from villain to
hero by putting Japan 2-1 up on the hour after her defensive
error had given Sweden a 10th minute lead.
Josefine Oqvist pounced on Sawa's disastrous back pass, cut
into the box and fired home from a tight angle but Japan
recovered quickly as Kawasumi equalised nine minutes later after
scrambling the ball over the line.
Sawa added the second with a close-range header after the
Japanese had rattled the bar minutes into the second half and
Kawasumi completed their comeback in style, catching Swedish
keeper Hedvig Lindahl out with a spectacular lob.
FRENCH DOMINANCE
In Moenchengladbach, the Americans, who were under pressure
from the start, scored against the run of play through Cheney
but immediately dropped deep and some sloppy passing allowed
France to come forward repeatedly.
"We lost our legs a bit but we picked up the fight," said
U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, whose team needed a penalty shootout to
overcome Brazil in the last eight. "I think it was obvious we
had heavy legs so we had to adjust."
With Sundhage sensing danger and bellowing from her coaching
area, the French dominance almost paid off on the half hour when
Gaetane Thiney tested Solo with a close-range effort.
Bompastor then rattled the bar with a fierce drive seconds
later as France took complete control.
Wambach, who had scored an equaliser deep into extra-time
against Brazil, should have put the Americans further in front
before the break but headed along the goal line from a metre.
The French got their just reward after 55 minutes when
Bompastor levelled after whipping in a cross from the left that
deceived Solo.
With France coach Bruno Bini bringing on another striker in
the speedy Elodie Thomis as they went in search of the winner,
the Americans struck at just the right time with Wambach making
amends and heading in at the far post.
A smooth chip over keeper Berangere Sapowicz from Morgan
three minutes later put the game beyond the French.
"We had our chances and we had a lot," Bini said."We were as
good as we could have been. But they have a lot of experience."