LYON, France (AP) After collecting five goals in her first game, Alex Morgan is getting a lot of attention at the Womens World Cup from defenders.
The U.S. forward has been shut down scoring-wise ever since her splash in the opener, as opponents have honed in on her, often with physical play. But thats just allowed her to emphasize other aspects of her game.
Morgan said each match in France has presented itself in a different way.
Naturally as a No. 9 Im going to be plowed through quite often. I understand that comes along with the job and it happens many times, in the NWSL and even in friendlies, she said, referring to the U.S. domestic league. So I wouldnt say its necessarily more physical in general at this World Cup, I would just say it just comes with the territory.
Morgan and the top-ranked United States play No. 3 England on Tuesday in the semifinals. Sweden will play the Netherlands the next day to set up next Sundays title match.Morgans five goals in a 13-0 victory over Thailand to open the tournament matched the record for most goals in a single game at the World Cup. She rested the teams next match against Chile.
While she hasnt scored since, shes been vitally important to the United States. She helped set up both of Megan Rapinoes goals in the teams 2-1 quarterfinal victory over France drawing the foul for the free kick on the first, and setting up Tobin Heaths sprint up field and cross that Rapinoe buried for the second.
Afterward, U.S. coach Jill Ellis said Morgan put her heart and soul into the game.
The kudos to Alex is I think she has a balance to her game, in terms of penetration, and being able, like she did in the France game, to be more of a player that can hold the ball up for us, Ellis said. And thats tough.
Both Sweden and Spain, the two opponents the Americans faced before France, targeted Morgan relentlessly. She was kicked in the first half of the 2-0 victory over Sweden to close the group stage then menaced by Spain to open the round of 16.
Rapinoe stepped up and scored two goals against both Spain and France.
Right now, Megan Rapinoe has put the team on her back, from Spain to France, and its going to take players like that, and a couple individuals each game, to step up and really help carry this team, Morgan said.
Morgan was named U.S. Soccers player of the year last year after leading the team with 18 goals in 19 games. It was the second time she earned the honor: She also won in 2012, when she had 28 goals and helped the team win an Olympic title.
She had seven of those goals during the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament last fall to earn the Golden Boot.
Shes in the running for the Golden Boot in France, too. With five goals, shes atop the leaderboard along with Rapinoe, Englands Ellen White and Australias Sam Kerr.
I would love someone on our team to win the Golden Boot. Of course it would be a great accolade, but thats not my goal. My goal is to help this team win a World Cup, Morgan said.
