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Women's World Cup: Carli Lloyd gets it done as USA prove too strong for China Women's World Cup: Carli Lloyd gets it done as USA prove too strong for China
(about 9 hours later)
It may have been some of the best soccer the Americans have played in this Women’s World Cup, but for a while, it looked like they couldn’t buy a goal.It may have been some of the best soccer the Americans have played in this Women’s World Cup, but for a while, it looked like they couldn’t buy a goal.
But then Carli Lloyd, as she is known to do in big games, broke the deadlock to lift the Americans over China in the quarter-final, 1-0. It was Lloyd’s second goal but first in the run of play in this tournament, where she and her teammates have been relatively quiet on the goalscoring front.But then Carli Lloyd, as she is known to do in big games, broke the deadlock to lift the Americans over China in the quarter-final, 1-0. It was Lloyd’s second goal but first in the run of play in this tournament, where she and her teammates have been relatively quiet on the goalscoring front.
In the first half, the Americans looked their best in five games in Canada. Looking less reliant on putting balls in the air toward the box, USA kept the ball on the ground, used short passes to connect up the field and held on to possession.In the first half, the Americans looked their best in five games in Canada. Looking less reliant on putting balls in the air toward the box, USA kept the ball on the ground, used short passes to connect up the field and held on to possession.
Coach Jill Ellis said it wasn’t a new tactical strategy, but “this team steps up in big moments.” Certainly, that is no truer than with Lloyd, who famously scored game-winning goals in both the 2012 and 2008 Olympic finals for the USA to win gold medals.Coach Jill Ellis said it wasn’t a new tactical strategy, but “this team steps up in big moments.” Certainly, that is no truer than with Lloyd, who famously scored game-winning goals in both the 2012 and 2008 Olympic finals for the USA to win gold medals.
With Lloyd’s goal the difference, she credited a team that played with more freedom than they had yet in this Women’s World Cup.With Lloyd’s goal the difference, she credited a team that played with more freedom than they had yet in this Women’s World Cup.
“When we defend like we did, pressing high, I think it just instinctually gives people the confidence to attack,” Lloyd said. “Jill and the coaching staff said, ‘Want want players to take players one-on-one, get to the end line and get forwards involved.’ Everyone just played freely out there.”“When we defend like we did, pressing high, I think it just instinctually gives people the confidence to attack,” Lloyd said. “Jill and the coaching staff said, ‘Want want players to take players one-on-one, get to the end line and get forwards involved.’ Everyone just played freely out there.”
The Americans went into the half scoreless, despite out-shooting China 11 to four, with three of their chances on frame, and nearly all of the shots looking close and dangerous.The Americans went into the half scoreless, despite out-shooting China 11 to four, with three of their chances on frame, and nearly all of the shots looking close and dangerous.
But six minutes after the break, the Americans found their breakthrough. Julie Johnston served one into the box and Lloyd rose up over the shoulders of forward Zhao Rong in the box to get a perfectly placed head on it, beating goalkeeper Wang Fei.But six minutes after the break, the Americans found their breakthrough. Julie Johnston served one into the box and Lloyd rose up over the shoulders of forward Zhao Rong in the box to get a perfectly placed head on it, beating goalkeeper Wang Fei.
“These are the moments that I live for,” Lloyd said after Friday’s quarter-final. “It’s just one of those things where you prepare for it mentally and physically. I knew that I wasn’t myself in the beginning games, but now I had the freedom to attack and do what I do best.”“These are the moments that I live for,” Lloyd said after Friday’s quarter-final. “It’s just one of those things where you prepare for it mentally and physically. I knew that I wasn’t myself in the beginning games, but now I had the freedom to attack and do what I do best.”
Ellis was forced to make some major adjustments to her usual line-up, with Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Ellis put Morgan Brian in Holiday’s spot and pulled a surprise, starting left back Kelley O’Hara as the right winger.Ellis was forced to make some major adjustments to her usual line-up, with Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Ellis put Morgan Brian in Holiday’s spot and pulled a surprise, starting left back Kelley O’Hara as the right winger.
Lloyd, who had played more of a box-to-box type of midfielder in previous games, was given license to push forward and attack while Brian sat in a defensive midfielder role.Lloyd, who had played more of a box-to-box type of midfielder in previous games, was given license to push forward and attack while Brian sat in a defensive midfielder role.
“I defended more than I’ve ever defended, but I was happy to play that role,” Brian said, adding that she was directed to play holding midfielder so Lloyd could attack. “That’s what our team needed.”“I defended more than I’ve ever defended, but I was happy to play that role,” Brian said, adding that she was directed to play holding midfielder so Lloyd could attack. “That’s what our team needed.”
As the Americans went into the locker room, the frustration was palpable, especially after having a golden opportunity to take the lead in just the second minute. Amy Rodriguez, who struggled in the final third in her first start of this tournament, went one-on-one with China’s goalkeeper and tried to chip it over Wang, but sent it badly wide.As the Americans went into the locker room, the frustration was palpable, especially after having a golden opportunity to take the lead in just the second minute. Amy Rodriguez, who struggled in the final third in her first start of this tournament, went one-on-one with China’s goalkeeper and tried to chip it over Wang, but sent it badly wide.
The Chinese played compact defensively and threw numbers behind the ball with offense looking much like an afterthought. Coach Hao Wei took the blame for his side’s loss.
“I want to commend the Chinese players for their hard work and performance. I think we lost the match because of the head coach, because of me,” he said through a translator, declining to elaborate.
Goalkeeper Hope Solo did make a two saves in the second half, but they were routine ones that didn’t test her much. The Americans, for their part, had four shots on goal and ended the night outshooting China 17-to-6.
Most of the Americans’ best chances came in the first half as China crept into the game in the second half and eked out more possession.Most of the Americans’ best chances came in the first half as China crept into the game in the second half and eked out more possession.
O’Hara had a powerful long-range shot sail just above the crossbar in the sixth minute. In the 21st minute, a Tobin Heath cross found O’Hara, whose diving header went just wide. Johnston also had a header go wide in the 31st minute.O’Hara had a powerful long-range shot sail just above the crossbar in the sixth minute. In the 21st minute, a Tobin Heath cross found O’Hara, whose diving header went just wide. Johnston also had a header go wide in the 31st minute.
O’Hara got knocked in the face in the scrum of a corner kick and was subbed out with a bloody nose in the second half. After the match, she said she hoped it wasn’t broken and didn’t think so.O’Hara got knocked in the face in the scrum of a corner kick and was subbed out with a bloody nose in the second half. After the match, she said she hoped it wasn’t broken and didn’t think so.
Goalkeeper Hope Solo did make a two saves in the second half, but they were routine ones that didn’t test her much. The Americans, for their part, had four shots on goal and ended the night outshooting China 17-to-6.
For China, despite the loss, it was their best finish in a World Cup since they fell to the Americans in the 1999 final. This was the first time China faced the USA in a World Cup since then, too.For China, despite the loss, it was their best finish in a World Cup since they fell to the Americans in the 1999 final. This was the first time China faced the USA in a World Cup since then, too.
No 2-ranked USA next face No 1-ranked heavyweight Germany in Montreal. Germany beat France earlier in the day, slipping past on a close penalty kick shootout to settle a 1-1 score at full-time.No 2-ranked USA next face No 1-ranked heavyweight Germany in Montreal. Germany beat France earlier in the day, slipping past on a close penalty kick shootout to settle a 1-1 score at full-time.