An inspired performance from Carli Lloyd lifted the United States into their second straight Women’s World Cup final with a 2-0 win over top-ranked Germany on Tuesday.
In a clash of the world’s top two teams, the United States mostly dominated in front of 51,000 largely US supporters at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
In a dramatic second half, Germany’s Celia Sasic missed a penalty kick on 60 minutes before Lloyd opened nine minutes later from the spot, with defender Kelley O’Hara sealing victory with her first goal for the Americans six minutes from time.
“I came here to win this thing, not just be a participant that played in a World Cup,” said Lloyd, 32, who was wearing the captain’s armband.
“It’s a good feeling. I’ve a really confident feeling in us winning it.”
The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999 and ranked second in the world, will play either defending champions Japan or England for the title in Vancouver on July 5.
Japan beat the Americans in a dramatic penalty shootout to take the title four years ago.
“We’re in a World Cup final, one opponent stands in our way and for me it doesn’t matter who it is,” US coach Jill Ellis said.
“We’ll take either. That sounds arrogant.”
The Americans dominated the first half, with forward Alex Morgan having the best chance to open, but Nadine Angerer held firm in the Germany goal.
A second effort from Morgan from close range also failed to find the target.
After the break, Germany’s Anja Mittag headed wide, but on the hour mark the European champions had a golden chance when US defender Julie Johnston pulled down Alexandra Popp as the midfielder slipped in on the blindside.
Sasic, the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, sent the shot low and just wide of Hope Solo in the US goal, to tears of relief from a distraught Johnston.
The Americans were then awarded a contested penalty when Morgan was brought down by defender Annike Krahn in a tackle that looked outside the box.
Lloyd made no mistake, stepping up and sending the ball into the corner of the net for her third goal in as many games as Angerer dived the opposite way.
The USA’s all-time leading scorer, Abby Wambach, came on 10 minutes from time in place of Megan Rapinoe.
Minutes later, Lloyd pulled clear of her marker to run down the field, crossing to O’Hara, who entered in the 75th minute. O’Hara fired in the winner from close range to finish off two-time winners Germany.
“It was clearly outside of the area and it can be seen quite clearly on television,” Germany coach said Silvia Neid of the penalty awarded against them.
“I’m very sad about it, but I can’t change it.”
Germany had been bidding for a record third title and to match their men’s team, who won the World Cup in Brazil last year.
“It was a great semi-final between two very strong teams at high level. Unfortunately we were not dangerous enough when it came to the goal area and congratulations to the United States,” said Neid, who had a role in Germany’s titles in 2003 and 2007.
Germany next prepare for the third-place play-off in Edmonton on Saturday.
“We’re going to have to support Celia,” Neid said. “She shot two penalties against France. Today, she missed. That type of thing happens in sport. She will have gotten over that by Saturday.”
It was the fourth World Cup meeting between the two powers – the Americans won 5-2 in 1991 and 3-2 in 1999, with Germany winning 3-0 in 2003 – and each time the winner went on to take the title.
Japan and England play their semi-final in Edmonton on Wednesday.
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