• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Sport

Rapinoe knocks out hosts and fires USA into World Cup semi-finals

29 June 2019, 4:00 PM  |
AFP AFP |  @SABCNews
United States' forward Megan Rapinoe (L) vies with France's defender Marion Torrent during the France 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between France and USA.

United States' forward Megan Rapinoe (L) vies with France's defender Marion Torrent during the France 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between France and USA.

Image: AFP

United States' forward Megan Rapinoe (L) vies with France's defender Marion Torrent during the France 2019 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match between France and USA.

Megan Rapinoe stole the headlines again as her brace took the United States through to the semi-finals of the women’s World Cup on Friday, the holders beating France 2-1 in Paris to puncture the hopes of the host nation.

Rapinoe’s free-kick five minutes into this quarter-final evaded a sea of bodies in the box on its way into the net to stun the home crowd at the Parc des Princes.

The USA then soaked up pressure before delivering the knockout blow midway through the second half when Rapinoe turned in Tobin Heath’s centre, although Wendie Renard pulled a goal back late on for France to set up a tense finish.

Jill Ellis’s team held on and they go through to a semi-final against England in Lyon next Tuesday as they seek to retain their crown and win a fourth World Cup in eight editions.

“This is so special to beat the host nation in the Parc des Princes. You can’t ask for any more than this,” said Rapinoe.

The pink-haired Rapinoe has been crucial on the field in this run, while dominating headlines off it thanks to her spat with President Donald Trump over her refusal to attend any post-tournament reception at the White House.

The 33-year-old had already scored twice in the win over Spain in the last round. Here, she took her tally for the tournament to five goals on the occasion of her 157th cap.

French regrets

Meanwhile, France will leave their own tournament with more than a few regrets.

Ellis praised the hosts, saying: “That’s a fantastic team we played tonight, and that is the most intense match I have ever been a part of.”

Nevertheless, that will be scant consolation for them. They were the only team to defeat the USA in the two years leading up to the World Cup and they did not really do themselves justice here before an expectant crowd.

Coach Corinne Diacre had been set the target of going all the way to the final on home soil, yet that always looked a tall order from the moment the draw was made last December and they were set on a quarter-final collision course with the best team in the world.

“It’s a failure in a footballing sense, we can’t hide from that. We are far from fulfilling our objective,” said Diacre.

“I hope we at least won people’s hearts tonight and since the start of the tournament.”

Only once before had they even made it to the semi-finals, and for the second World Cup running their adventure ends in the last eight, the same stage at which they went out of the 2016 Olympics and the last three European Championships.

Having started this tournament with a first-half blitz against South Korea in the opening game, Les Bleues never really reached the same heights again.

The country’s leading sports daily L’Equipe had called this “the challenge of a lifetime”, and in that context conceding the opening goal so early on a sweltering Parisian evening was a disaster.

Alex Morgan was fouled by Griedge Mbock outside the area to the USA left, and Rapinoe’s low delivery went in without taking a touch, passing through the legs of France skipper Amandine Henry en route.

The home side then had lots of the ball but rarely really troubled USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Their opponents had not created much either, although they made their intent clear right at the start of the second half as a Samantha Mewis strike drew a fine save from Sarah Bouhaddi, who then did well to keep out Heath’s follow-up.

The second goal arrived in the 65th minute, with Morgan and Heath combining down the right before the latter’s ball across goal was turned in by Rapinoe.

France did not give up and set up a frenzied finale as they reduced the deficit nine minutes from time, Renard evading her marker to head in Gaetane Thiney’s flighted free-kick for her fourth goal of the tournament. But the USA saw out the victory.

Share article
Tags: Women's World CupMegan RapinoeUnited StatesFranceParisSemi-Finals
Previous Post

Use Indoni programme to rescue SA youth from social ills: Mthethwa

Next Post

IFP provincial conference delayed

Related Posts

SA MotoGP rider Brad Binder

Binder ‘fights like hell’ to win Argentina sprint from 15th on grid

1 April 2023, 9:08 PM
A soccer player on the field.

Orlando Pirates move to second spot on DSTV Premiership log

1 April 2023, 9:01 PM
Mamelodi Sundowns players at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

Mamelodi Sundowns make it six PSL titles in a row

1 April 2023, 8:34 PM
A soccer ball inside a goal net.

No Haaland, no problem as Man City thrash Liverpool 4-1

1 April 2023, 3:42 PM
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso during practice.

Aston Martin had ‘best’ qualifying at Australian Grand Prix: Alonso

1 April 2023, 2:02 PM
The logo of Olympic Games.

Ukrainian athletes not allowed to compete against Russians in Paris qualifiers

1 April 2023, 8:50 AM
Next Post
The IFP Secretary- General Velenkosini Hlabisa  says they are busy with credentials.

IFP provincial conference delayed

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Public sector unions accept revised 7.5% wage increase
  • ‘Medupi Power Station’s design ‘flaws’ deliberate to cost taxpayers money’
  • Zimbabwe Reserve Bank faces sanctions over money laundering accusations
  • UPDATE: Oscar Pistorius denied parole
  • UJ, TUT named hubs of Artificial Intelligence
  • Corporates prepare for a possible national blackout
  • Unions set the record on wage settlement agreement reports
  • UPDATE | Court hears evidence regarding Zuma’s medical records
  • Public sector unions accept revised 7.5% wage increase
  • SABC News crew attacked on N2 while monitoring protests
  • Eight killed in Limpopo N1 crash
  • UPDATE | Five suspects killed during shootout with police in Durban
  • Residents in Durban flat where suspects killed left reeling
  • SABC News distances itself from fake news post
  • Eskom hands back operations of Uganda’s power stations

LATEST

Police badge.
  • South Africa

Police lauded for bringing down murder and drug dealing suspects


SA MotoGP rider Brad Binder
  • Sport

Binder ‘fights like hell’ to win Argentina sprint from 15th on grid


A soccer player on the field.
  • Sport

Orlando Pirates move to second spot on DSTV Premiership log


Mamelodi Sundowns players at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
  • Sport

Mamelodi Sundowns make it six PSL titles in a row


Crime scene tape
  • South Africa

Residents in Durban flat where suspects killed left reeling


EFF members cleaning a dumpsite
  • Politics

Malema takes Andries Tatane clean-up campaign to Limpopo


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Use Indoni programme to rescue SA youth from social ills: Mthethwa
Next IFP provincial conference delayed