US Women Win in World Cup Semifinal, Mock England with Goal Celebration
The U.S. women’s soccer team took care of England in the World Cup semifinal Tuesday afternoon, and one of its stars added insult to injury by mocking the losing country with her goal celebration.
Team USA had to hold on for dear life to come away with a hard-fought 2-1 victory, but it was the go-ahead goal and subsequent gesture from Alex Morgan that garnered the most attention.
The forward scored her sixth goal of the tournament on a header at the 31st-minute mark to give the U.S. women the lead.
With the goal, Morgan, who turned 30 on Tuesday, became the first Women’s World Cup player to score on her birthday.
Alex Morgan scores her first goal since the opening game and retakes the lead in the Golden Boot race (6 goals, 3 assists)
She’s the first player in #FIFAWWC history to score on her birthday ? pic.twitter.com/EGWBNIyaxI
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2019
It was Morgan’s first goal since the team’s opening round 13-0 win over Thailand. She scored five goals in that one.
To celebrate, she mocked her opponents by pretending to sip a cup of tea.
Here for Alex Morgan’s sipping tea celebration ? pic.twitter.com/vUOhJolHJ4
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) July 2, 2019
Many fans enjoyed the display.
RT if you think Alex Morgan sipping tea after scoring on England is the most bad badass move of 2019. #ENGUSA #USAvENG pic.twitter.com/WvsCXDDhTy
— cryptoGaurav (@iamGrvJ) July 2, 2019
*scores game-winning goal on 30th birthday to send the #USWNT to its fifth WC final*
GO OFF, SIS!!!!!!!! Get in there, @alexmorgan13. All the tea. pic.twitter.com/7yh3WC0KOS
— Jennyyyyy (@1_uswnt) July 2, 2019
Significant Moments in Anglo-American Relations
1776 American Revolution
1941 America Enter Second World War
2019 Alex Morgan restores all damage Piers Morgan has single handedly done to her surname
?? ??????? ☕️ pic.twitter.com/0AmgCJnTdj— roger bennett (@rogbennett) July 2, 2019
Others, however, found it classless.
We are so disrespectful it’s pathetic. These women make me embarrassed to be an American.
— The Coach ? (@BlackVein90) July 2, 2019
No class
— Red (@sposfanatic) July 2, 2019
The win marked the third straight 2-1 victory for the U.S. women in the World Cup. They beat Spain in the Round of 16 and France in the quarterfinals by the same score.
In a surprise move, Megan Rapinoe, the team’s vehemently anti-Trump midfielder, was not in the starting lineup against England.
According to Kim McCauley of SB Nation, it was not an injury that kept Rapinoe out of the starting 11. Rather, it was the fact that she has struggled defensively.
So You’re Wondering Why Megan Rapinoe Isn’t Starting For The USWNT:
As good as Pinoe is, she doesn’t contribute a lot defensively. Christen Press is the fastest and fittest player on the USWNT. England RB Lucy Bronze has been the best player at this tournament. So, that’s why.
— Kim McCauley (@lgbtqfc) July 2, 2019
Instead, the team opted to play Christen Press in her place. It turned out to be a smart move as Press scored the team’s first goal of the game at the 10th-minute mark.
The US strikes first!
Christen Press opens the scoring in the 10th minute ?? #USAvENG pic.twitter.com/1Y7chtJ7Fi
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 2, 2019
Speaking on BBC during the broadcast, former U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo said Rapinoe did not have the stamina to cover England’s top player, Lucy Bronze, for 90 minutes.
Hope Solo on the BBC said: “Megan Rapinoe historically doesn’t have the endurance to deal with someone like Lucy Bronze for 90 minutes. I think it’s a great decision by the USA boss. Christen Press should have had more minutes than she has.”
— Bob Williams (@WilliamsBob75) July 2, 2019
Offensively, England controlled the ball 57 percent of the time, according to ESPN, but the U.S. women did a better job of capitalizing on their opportunities.
Team USA had 10 shots in the game compared with England’s six.
With the win, the U.S. women advanced to the World Cup final Friday. They’ll face the winner of the Netherlands-Sweden match Wednesday.
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