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Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stopped a penalty kick in the 84th minute to preserve the lead as the U.S. national team defeated England 2-1 in a semifinal of the Women’s World Cup at Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France, on Tuesday.
The U.S. will seek its second straight title and fourth in the eight World Cups on Sunday in Lyon vs. the winner of the Netherlands-Sweden match to be played on Wednesday.
After defender Becky Sauerbrunn was called for tripping Ellen White in a play that went to video review, Naeher guessed correctly on Steph Houghton’s shot and dove to her left for the critical save.
It was the first non-shootout save on a penalty for the U.S. in Women’s World Cup history.
England then went down a player in the 87th minute when Millie Bright drew her second yellow card for a challenge on Alex Morgan, who celebrated her 30th birthday by giving the Americans a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.
The U.S. won despite the absence of star Megan Rapinoe, who had scored all four goals for the Americans the past two matches. She reportedly has a hamstring injury.
Christen Press, who started in Rapinoe’s place, made it 1-0 for the U.S. in the 10th minute before White got the equalizer nine minutes later.
With England trailing for the first time in the World Cup, White tied it in the 19th minute with her sixth goal to temporarily take the World Cup lead. Morgan equaled that number and put the U.S. ahead against backup goalkeeper Carly Telford, playing for the injured Karen Bardsley.
Morgan ran onto a pinpoint cross from Lindsey Horan for the header and then celebrated by pretending to sip a cup of tea.
White appeared to score her second goal of the match in the 67th minute, but a video review ruled the English were offside.
–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)