Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: US beat Netherlands to win record fourth title thanks to Megan Rapinoe

The US Women’s National Team beat first time finalists the Netherlands in the Fifa Women’s World Cup final in Lyon on Sunday.

The 2-0 win, with goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, sees the US retain the trophy and win it for a record fourth time in front of a partisan crowd.

Jill Ellis’s side stepped up in the second half after a goalless first period. Both teams had 100 per cent records going in to the final so something had to give but the Netherlands set themselves up to not concede.

Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman tweaked her formation for the final, looking to frustrate the holders as they looked for a record fourth title and back to back World Cup crowns.

The US, ranked first in the world, came into the tournament as holders and favourites. Their opponents are only ranked eighth in the world but they are European champions.

The Orange Lionesses by contrast were appearing in their first final, having never qualified prior to the 2015 tournament.

The US side had taken the lead early in every game at this World Cup, with their slowest start to a match being a 12th minute goal in their opener against Thailand – a game they went on to win 13-0.

It took 60 minutes for the deadlock to be broken and it was in controversial circumstances. French referee Stephanie Frappart went to the video assistant referee and pointed to the penalty spot after taking another look at a Stefanie van der Gragt challenge on Alex Morgan, deciding that the Dutch defender caught the US star with a high boot.

Megan Rapinoe, the woman who had been challenged by US president Donald Trump to “win before she talks”, after she had said that the team would not visit the White House, stepped up and slotted the penalty past Sari van Veenendaal.

That put Rapinoe level with teammate Morgan and England’s Ellen White on six goals in the race for the golden boot and was her 50th for the US.

The 34-year-old was taken off to a standing ovation with 10 minutes to go, handing the armband to Morgan.

By then Rose Lavelle had doubled the US advantage after dribbling through the Dutch defence and firing home.

The closest we had come to an opener in the first 30 minutes was from a US corner but then they upped the ante. First a penalty appeal was turned down after Alex Morgan was fouled by Dominique Bloodworth but the referee shook her head.

The Netherlands were then rescued by Van Veenendaal in their goal as she made a string of saves in quick succession, the pick at full stretch to turn a Morgan strike around the post.

That prolonged period of pressure was broken by a rapid counter that gave them a sight of goal through dead ball specialist Sherida Spitse.

The half ended with a stoppage following a clash of heads between US full-back Kelley O’Hara and Dutch winger Lieke Martens.

The Netherlands then went close at the death after a corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble but it was honours even at the break after a thrilling opening 45 minutes.

This was the first World Cup game that the US had failed to score in the first half since the semi-final against Germany in 2015.

Ali Krieger replaced O’Hara at the interval while Becky Sauerbrunn came off worst in another clash of heads, leaving the US down to 10 players while she sought treatment to a cut on her forehead.

Carlli Lloyd, the hat-trick hero of the 2015 final, made a cameo for the US in the final minutes.