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| USA beat Australia at Women's World Cup thanks to Megan Rapinoe's magic | USA beat Australia at Women's World Cup thanks to Megan Rapinoe's magic |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The so-called Group of Death looked like it could have been the group of defying expectations early on Monday. But magic from Megan Rapinoe on the wing carried the Americans to victory and dashed the Australians’ aim of upsetting the No2 team in the world. | |
| It was an even affair in the first half with the teams entering the break deadlocked, but Rapinoe helped lead a second-half surge in typical USA fashion to pull ahead and secure a 3-1 win over Australia in front of 31,148 fans. | |
| Rapinoe set up a Christen Press goal in the 61st minute with the game poised at 1-1. Rapinoe collected a long kick from goalkeeper Hope Solo and slipped it to Sydney Leroux out wide, who slid the ball into the middle of the box. Lying in wait and unmarked was Press, who placed her first-time shot into the net. Rapinoe applied the killer blow shortly afterwards: in the 78th minute, she collected a bad giveaway in midfield, broke down the pitch, cut around the defense and finished with a shot that went in off the far post. | |
| Related: Women's World Cup: USA v Australia – in pictures | |
| “It was a bit of a shaky game for us, especially the first 30 minutes,” Rapinoe said. “But three points. That’s what is most important, especially in this group that is shaping up a little weird.” | |
| The USA’s scouting report heading into the game centered around Australia’s speed and the Matildas certainly used it to their advantage, threatening the Americans repeatedly on counterattacks. | The USA’s scouting report heading into the game centered around Australia’s speed and the Matildas certainly used it to their advantage, threatening the Americans repeatedly on counterattacks. |
| The Aussies broke through in the 23rd minute with Michelle Heyman laying the ball off to a wide open Lisa De Vanna on the right side of the box. The US fullbacks, who had been pushing forward in attack, were caught out of position and chasing the ball on the counter. | |
| The scoreline flattered the Americans, especially in light of early struggles, and the shots breakdown was close with the Americans recording 11 shots to Australia’s nine. Both had six on goal. | |
| “We said we would come at them and attack, not let America dictate the game, and we did that,” said the Australia coach, Alen Stajcic. “The players had a lot of belief they could win today and you could see it in the first half.” | |
| The Americans looked flat in attack early on, turning the ball over easily as the Australians created chance after chance. But a lucky deflection from Rapinoe in the 12th minute put the USA ahead and began a shift in momentum. She collected a loose ball from a set piece, deftly turned the defender and fired, with the shot ricocheting off Laura Alleway and past a wrong-footed Melissa Barbieri in the Aussie goal. | |
| Related: USA v Australia: Women's World Cup 2015 – as it happened | |
| A minute later, Solo preserved the lead for the Americans with a diving effort to get a hand on a volley. Solo was called on twice in the first half to making diving saves, once tipping the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety. | A minute later, Solo preserved the lead for the Americans with a diving effort to get a hand on a volley. Solo was called on twice in the first half to making diving saves, once tipping the ball onto the crossbar and away to safety. |
| “Hope’s saves were huge. Especially the volley from the cross,” said Alex Morgan, referring to a strike from Samantha Kerr in the 13th minute. “I don’t know if any other goalkeeper in the world would save that one. That was pretty amazing to see her save our butts.” | |
| Morgan, the USA’s star striker, wasn’t back to 100% fitness by Monday, having just participated in full training with the team only a couple days before, according to US Soccer, and played the final 10 minutes. | |
| Both Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday were cautioned, meaning if they pick up a second yellow through the quarter-finals, they will be suspended for one match. | |
| With the result, the Americans take sole possession of first place in Group D after one round of matches and they preserve an unbeaten streak against Australia. In the 24 previous meetings between these two sides, the Americans had won 22 and tied twice. | With the result, the Americans take sole possession of first place in Group D after one round of matches and they preserve an unbeaten streak against Australia. In the 24 previous meetings between these two sides, the Americans had won 22 and tied twice. |
| Group D had earlier on Monday gotten off to a wild start with underdog Nigeria coming back twice to draw with Sweden. | Group D had earlier on Monday gotten off to a wild start with underdog Nigeria coming back twice to draw with Sweden. |