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Jonathan White

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.

#USA HAVE WON THE #FIFAWWC 2019! #LaGrandeFinale | #USANED pic.twitter.com/sjDVeuXSXo
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 7, 2019

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.

HISTORY!
The USWNT breaks the record for most goals in a Women's World Cup. pic.twitter.com/lvWNqvCiim
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 7, 2019



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Fifa Women's World Cup

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

Megan Rapinoe celebrates after opening the scoring. Photo: EPA

United States' Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

United States' midfielder Rose Lavelle celebrate scoring the 2-0 goal with her teammates during the France 2019 Women’s World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by Philippe DESMAZES / AFP)

United States' Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring her side's opening goal during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands' forward Lineth Beerensteyn and United States' defender Ali Krieger vie for the ball during the France 2019 Women’s World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

United States' Rose Lavelle, left, scores her side's second goal during the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent)

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China's defender Haiyan Wu celebrates after playing Spain in the Fifa Women’s World Cup. Photo: AFP

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Wang Shuang (R) of China competes during the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Players of China look dejected after the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

(190626) -- MONTPELLIER, June 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- (From L to R) China's head coach Jia Xiuquan, players Wu Haiyan, Han Peng, Wang Shuang and Wang Shanshan cheer before the round of 16 match between China and Italy at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Montpellier, France, June 25, 2019. China lost 0-2. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)

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Alex Morgan celebrates scoring against England. Photo: Reuters

epaselect epa07642154 Mallory Pugh (#2) of USA celebrates her goal with teammates during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 preliminary round match between USA and Thailand in Reims, France, 11 June 2019. EPA-EFE/TOLGA BOZOGLU

Soccer Football - Women's World Cup - Quarter Final - France v United States - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - June 28, 2019 Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Benoit Tessier TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

(190612) -- REIMS (FRANCE), June 12, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Alex Morgan (C) of the United States celebrates with teammate Megan Rapinoe during the Group F match between the United States and Thailand at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in Reims, France, June 11, 2019. The United States won 13-0. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

01 July 2019, France, Lyon: US Megan Rapinoe grabs her hair during the training session for the USA women national soccer team ahead of Tuesday's FIFA Women's World Cup semi final soccer match against England. Photo: Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

Sport

Football

The 2015 champions forced to earn their crown by first-time finalists in Lyon final
VAR gave the penalty that opened the scoring before Rose Lavelle added a second


The 2015 champions forced to earn their crown by first-time finalists in Lyon final


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

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}The 2015 champions forced to earn their crown by first-time finalists in Lyon final VAR gave the penalty that opened the scoring before Rose Lavelle added a second

The 2015 champions forced to earn their crown by first-time finalists in Lyon final

VAR gave the penalty that opened the scoring before Rose Lavelle added a second