USA defend World Cup crown against Netherlands

The USWNT defend their Women’s World Cup trophy with a stern 2-0 victory over the Netherlands.

A decorative collage of red, white, blue and orange surrounded Parc Olympique Lyonnais before kick-off. It was the Women’s World Cup Final, and the biggest yet in a growing sport.

The match began with the usual and constant U.S. barrage. Camp set up on the edge of the Dutch box, only for the pace of Linith Beerensteyn to look a constant threat throughout the first half for the Oranje. The tournament’s joint-top scorer Alex Morgan also looked to interchange the Dutch centre halves but failed to do so.

Beerensteyn again looked a threat when dashing through on goal from a stunning Vivianne Miedema through ball, only for USWMNT keeper Alyssa Naeher to rush quickly off her line to deny her.

Throughout the first half though, it was Naeher’s opposite number who took the plaudits.

“She’s probably just grabbed the Goalkeeper of the tournament award”

– Jonathan Pearce

After her release from Arsenal, Sari Van Veenendaal has certainly impressed a number of other clubs for the coming seasons after her performance at this World Cup.

The player of the match winner, Sari kept the Dutch in the match in the first half with fantastic saves from Morgan, Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe seeing the score kept to 0-0 at the break.

15 minutes into the second half, and the  deadlock was finally broken. After initially giving a corner, French referee Stephanie Frappart pointed to the spot, after namesake Stephanie Van der Gragt fouled high on Alex Morgan.

Rapinoe stepped up to slot home. 1-0. The crowd amassed into raptures.

Miedema’s best dribbling efforts came to no avail in the coming minutes, with Rose Lavelle shimmying past Van der Gragt again to slot home past the agonised Van Veenendaal to make it two and surely win it for the favourites.

After five minutes of added time, Frappart blew her whistle. The Dutch left everything out on the field, but the US were just too good for them in the end. It’s number four for the USA!