USA beat Netherlands in women’s World Cup final to retain title

The United States retained the women ’ s World Cup on Sunday as a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a superb Rose Lavelle strike gave the holders a 2 – 0 victory over a battling Netherlands side in Lyon .

Having been kept at bay by the brilliant Dutch goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal throughout the first half , the USA finally went ahead just after the hour as Rapinoe stroked home from 12 yards to end the tournament as joint top scorer on six goals .
There was an air of inevitability about the pink – haired 34 – year – old , the star of this World Cup on and off the field , putting the USA ahead .

It also seemed inevitable that the breakthrough goal here should come from a VAR – awarded penalty , with French referee Stephanie Frappart initially giving a corner before pointing to the spot following a review .

The whippet – like Lavelle , another stand -out performer over the last month , got the second goal in the 69 th minute , killing off Dutch hopes of a comeback .

The victory underlines the USA ’ s status as the dominant force in international women ’ s football as they claim the World Cup for the fourth time in eight editions .

They were already the first team to appear in three consecutive finals , and coach Jill Ellis becomes the first coach to win back -to – back World Cups in the men ’ s or women ’ s game since Italy ’ s Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930 s .
The USA had been the only non – European team to make it to the quarter – finals here , but they had already ended the hopes of the hosts and England before denying the Dutch a dream double success, two years after they won Euro 2017 on home soil .

Whether the Americans can continue this domination on to the next World Cup remains to be seen , not least because Rapinoe is already in the twilight years of her career .

She was brought back into the starting line -up here by Ellis having sat out the victory over England in the last four due to a hamstring problem.

Christen Press made way but came on for the closing stages , as Rapinoe went off to a loud ovation from the massed ranks of USA fans .
– Goalkeeping heroics in vain –
At a tournament which has showcased the improving standards of goalkeeping in the women ’ s game, the excellent Van Veenendaal prevented the USA from winning by a greater margin .

The 29 – year – old , who has spent the last four years at Arsenal, had already excelled in her team ’ s win over Sweden in the semi – finals .

Here, she allowed her team to withstand an onslaught from the holders towards half – time , saving well from Julie Ertz and bettering that by producing two superb stops in quick succession in the 38 th minute .
Both American chances came from crosses from the left by Rapinoe . First Van Veenendaal stopped a Samantha Mewis header , and then she turned the ball onto the post when Alex Morgan diverted Rapinoe ’ s low centre towards goal .

Morgan was thwarted again moments later as she tried her luck from 20 yards , and the European champions held out until the interval .

The USA had scored no later than the 12 th minute in all of their prior matches at this World Cup, but the Dutch , crucially , offered little going forward at the other end .
Still , it was 61 minutes before the holders went ahead .

The referee gave a corner when Stefanie van der Gragt challenged Morgan in the area but changed her mind upon seeing the images . Rapinoe stroked in the first penalty scored in a women ’ s World Cup final to claim a share of the golden boot with Morgan and England ’ s Ellen White .

The Netherlands tried to regain their composure , but there was nothing they could do to stop Lavelle ’ s piercing run towards the box midway through the second half .

She dropped her shoulder to set up the shooting opportunity and fired in low from 18 yards . Van Veenendaal then saved from Morgan and Dunn to keep the score down , but the title was the USA ’ s again.
( AFP )

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