United States and Germany Meet in Historic Clash Tonight
Published on June 30, 2015 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (June 30, 2015) - The two most decorated countries in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup meet tonight at 7 p.m. ET as the United States and Germany clash with a trip to the 2015 World Cup Final at stake at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
The United States booked their place in the semifinals with a 1-0 win over China PR on Friday in a quarterfinal match at Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa. Houston Dash midfielder Carli Lloyd scored the lone goal of the game for the U.S. Women's National Team in the 51st minute when she headed home a cross supplied by Chicago Red Stars defender Julie Johnston.
The goal was the second of the tournament for Lloyd and the 65th of her international career. It was also the perfect way for the Dash midfielder, who captained the U.S. and was named the Live Your Goals Player of the Match, to mark her 200th appearance for her country.
It was also the first goal in the knockout stages of a World Cup for Lloyd, who has scored three times in two gold medal matches at the Olympics - including the tournament-winning goal on both occasions.
The U.S. backline of Johnston, FC Kansas City defender Becky Sauerbrunn, Washington Spirit defender Ali Krieger and Houston Dash defender Meghan Klingenberg along with Seattle Reign FC goalkeeper Hope Solo will carry a streak of 423-consecutive minutes without allowing a goal after posting their fourth straight shutout at the tournament.
The quarterfinal victory against China was the 134th victory of Solo's international career, moving her past Brianna Scurry for the most all-time wins by a U.S. international goalkeeper.
United States coach Jill Ellis will be happy to welcome back to the lineup FC Kansas City midfielder Lauren Holiday and Seattle Reign FC midfielder Megan Rapinoe after both missed the quarterfinal against China while serving one-game suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
Holiday is one of three players on the current U.S. squad to have scored in a World Cup semifinal - with Portland Thorns FC forward Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach, whose NWSL rights are held by Reign FC, joining the 2013 NWSL MVP as the other two players to have registered a goal at that level.
Ellis will also be eager for continued contributions from Thorns FC midfielder Tobin Heath, who has started the last three matches of the tournament, as well as Morgan Brian, who played all 90 minutes in a World Cup game for the first time in her international career in the match against China.
Heath and Morgan will face club teammate Nadine Angerer after the Thorns FC goalkeeper helped send Germany into the semifinals with her decisive save in a penalty shootout against France. The Germans emerged 5-4 in the battle of spot kicks following a 1-1 draw with their fellow Europeans.
Germany forward Celia Sasic notched her tournament-best sixth goal when she converted from the penalty spot in the 84th minute to send the match into extra time.
The United States and Germany have met three times before at the World Cup - twice in the semifinals - with the U.S. holding a 2-1-0 edge. The countries split their previous encounters in the semifinals, with the Americans claiming a 5-2 victory in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991 and the Germans exacting their revenge with a 3-0 win at the 2003 tournament, held in the United States.
The winner of the match tonight will have the opportunity to lift the World Cup for an unprecedented third time when they play in the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 5 at 7 p.m. ET at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from June 30, 2015
- Seattle Reign FC Cascadia Clash with Portland Thorns FC to be Broadcast on FOX Sports GO - Seattle Reign FC
- NWSL and FOX Sports Announce National Broadcast Deal - NWSL
- Fox Sports 1 to Broadcast Two Thorns FC Home Matches, Fox Sports Go to Feature Two Additional Games - Portland Thorns FC
- United States and Germany Meet in Historic Clash Tonight - NWSL
- Boston Breakers Sign Australian Forward Kyah Simon - Boston Breakers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
