As was expected with the top two teams in the world, the affair was an evenly played match throughout the entire 90 minutes, but the Americans did have the advantage in possession and scoring chances.
The USA’s first moment of danger came in the 10th minute following a throw-in by Becky Sauebrunn on the right flank. Samantha Mewis brought the ball down and it bounced to Crystal Dunn, who fired a shot from the right side of the six-yard box straight at Germany’s goalkeeper. Amulth Schult did well to push it out for a USA corner. In the ensuing corner kick, Tobin Heath sent a corner kick to the far side that found the head of Carli Lloyd, but she sent it just over the crossbar.
Germany responded with a chance of its own in the 12th minute when Sara Däbritz’s rocket seemed to be heading into the upper right corner, but U.S. ‘keeper Alyssa Naeher responded with a diving save and pushed the ball out of danger.
In the second half, the USA came out energized and in the 56th minute, Lynn Williams finally broke through to give the USA a 1-0 lead after Christen Press’ shot hit the crossbar and Tobin Heath’s follow up was blocked by a German defender. The ball then rolled to Williams and she finished smoothly to make it 1-0.
The U.S. took control of the match and missed several close chances in the latter part of the second half that would have sealed the game. Lloyd created a particularly dangerous chance as she dribbled around several defenders in the left side of the box and was one-on-one with the German goalkeeper, who made a great save with her legs.
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 20-Allie Long, 7-Casey Short; 19-Crystal Dunn (2-Mallory Pugh, 58), 6-Morgan Brian, 3-Samantha Mewis, 17-Tobin Heath 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.); 12-Lynn Williams (13-Alex Morgan, 79), 23-Christen Press (9-Lindsey Horan, 79)
Subs not used: 5-Kelley O’Hara, 8-Julie Johnston, 11-Ali Krieger, 14-Jessica McDonald, 15-Emily Sonnett, 16-Rose Lavelle, 18-Jane Campbell, 22-Brianna Pinto, 24-Ashlyn Harris
Germany: 1-Almuth Schult, 2-Josephine Henning, 4-Leonie Maier, 5-Babett Peter, 9-Alexandra Popp, 10-Dzsenifer Marozsan, 11-Anja Mittag (15-Mandy Islacker, 74), 13-Sara Däbritz, 14-Anna Blässe (7-Pauline Bremer, 69), 17-Isabel Kerschowski (29-Felicitas Rauch, 74), 18-Lena Petermann (23-Verena Faißt, 45)
Subs not used: 3-Kathrin Hendrich, 12-Laura Benkarth, 20-Lina Magull, 21-Lisa Weiß, 24-Kristin Demann, 26-Hasret Kayikci, 27-Sara Doorsoun, 31-Linda Dallman
Source / Photo – ussoccer.com
