Women's World Cup: This is how U.S. downs Germany 2-0 to advance to final

The United States advanced Tuesday evening to the Women’s World Cup final, downing No. 1 Germany 2-0 on goals from Carli Lloyd and Kelley O’Hara.
The two-time champions will play the winner of England-Japan, which meet Wednesday.
The World Cup final is Sunday in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Lloyd scored the first U.S. goal in the 69th minute of the semifinal match,
converting a penalty kick after striker Alex Morgan was fouled. It was Lloyd’s third goal of the tournament, her second from a penalty kick.
Substitute O’Hara netted in the 84th minute to seal the victory.
The United States was fortunate not to go a goal down after Germany’s Celia Sasic, the leading scorer in the tournament, missed a penalty kick in the 63rd minute.
Germany outshot the United States 15 to 12 but only managed to get one on target, which U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo pushed over the crossbar.
The United States played its best match of the tournament in Montreal, after a slow start.
Much of the play in the first 10 minutes was in the U.S. half, but after an early German header went over the crossbar Germany only threatened seriously one more time in the first 45 minutes.
Germany played better in the second half but most of its shots were well wide or over.
The United States is looking to add to its 1991 and 1999 trophies.


The impossible-to-crack defense almost gave one up Tuesday night.

The United States, unscored upon since its opening match of the Women's World Cup, finally showed some vulnerability about 15 minutes into the second half of its semifinal against No.1 Germany.

Wambach: More happy that teammate scored than if I had 01:39

Stalwart defender Julie Johnston made a mistake in trying to chest down the soccer ball as she neared goalkeeper Hope Solo. Germany's Alexandra Popp scooted by and eyed a goal-scoring chance. Johnston tugged on her opponent's shoulder with her right hand. Popp got off a half-hearted chip and went down.

Foul in the penalty area. Yellow card for Johnston, one that commentators felt could have been a red card. Penalty kick for Germany and Celia Sasic, the leading scorer in the tournament.

The long goal-less streak seemed certainly over as Solo took a walk away from goal as Sasic readied for her attempt to break the 0-0 deadlock.

It wasn't. Sasic missed wide left in the 63rd minute -- Germany's first miss of a penalty kick during a Women's World Cup match. It had been 17-for-17 before the striker failed.

Six minutes later, the United States was on top when midfielder Carli Lloyd converted a penalty kick for the Americans and a 1-0 lead. Substitute Kelley O'Hara netted in the 84th minute off a Lloyd cross to seal the U.S. team's 2-0 victory.