LYON, France (AP) With Alex Morgans cheeky tea-sipping celebration and a postgame mobbing of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the United States has moved a step closer to successfully defending its latest Womens World Cup title.
Morgan scored the go-ahead goal and Naeher preserved the 2-1 semifinal victory over England by smothering a late penalty kick Tuesday night.
The top-ranked United States will now face the winner of todays semifinal between the Netherlands and Sweden in the Americans third straight appearance in the World Cup title match.
Christen Press put the United States up early but Ellen Whites goal tied it before 20 minutes had passed. Morgans sixth goal of the tournament came before the break, and on her 30th birthday. She hadnt had a goal since she scored five in the teams 13-0 rout of Thailand to open the tournament.
After her goal, Morgan pantomimed a sip of tea on the field.
I feel like this team just has had so much thrown at us, and I felt that we didnt take the easy route to the final this tournament, and thats the tea, she said.
