Anyone who watched the Women’s FIFA World Cup knew that this year’s championship was one for the books. The roster is made up of 23 powerful female athletes, including team captains Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe. During their games leading up to their victory in the FIFA World Cup, these 23 women and Head Coach Jill Ellis would go on to do things that no other national team has done in a World Cup before.
In the opening round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, The USWNT face Thailand. With 5 goals by Alex Morgan (12′, 53′, 74′, 81′, 87′), 2 goals by Rose Lavelle (20′, 56′), a goal by Lindsey Horan (32′), 2 goals by Sam Mewis (50′, 54′), a goal by Megan Rapinoe (79′), a goal by Mallory Pugh (84′), and two goals by Carli Lloyd (90′, 92′), the USA would go on to be victorious by a score of 13-0. In their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut, Horan, Lavelle, Mewis, and Pugh were all able find the net. This was a historic win for the USWNT as it is the largest margin of victory in a FIFA Women’s World Cup. This victory also gave the USA a +13 goal differential to begin Group F play. This game was also historic for team captain, Alex Morgan as she joined Michelle Akers as the only two players from any nation to score 5 goals in a single FIFA Women’s World Cup match.
Woman of the Match: Alex Morgan
In their next Group F match up, the USWNT would take on Chile. With 2 goals by Carli Lloyd (11′, 35′) and one goal by Julie Ertz (26′), the USA would again be victorious by a score of 3-0. This was a historic match for Carli Lloyd and for Julie Ertz. Lloyd set a FIFA Women’s World Cup record by scoring in 6 consecutive games, and Ertz scored her first career World Cup goal. After this match, the USWNT had a +16 goal differential, which kept them in first place of Group F.
Woman of the Match: Carli Lloyd
In their last Group F game, the USWNT would face Sweden, an opponent that the national team has faced 6 times in a World Cup. With a goal by Lindsey Horan (3′) and an error by Sweden defender Jonna Andersson (50′), the USWNT would go on to win 2-0. The team also made history in this match by being the first team to have a goal differential of +18 in group stage play.
Woman of the Match: Tobin Heath
In the first round of knockouts, the round of 16, the USWNT would face Spain. Both USA goals on the day were score on penalty kicks by Megan Rapinoe (7′, 76′). The first goal scored on the USWNT was scored by Jennifer Hermoso (7′). The USWNT would go on to survive the first round of knockouts, 2-1, thanks to the penalty kicks by Rapinoe.
Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe
In the quarterfinals, the USWNT would face France. With 2 goals by Megan Rapinoe (5′, 65′), and a goal surrendered by the USWNT (Wendie Renard, 81′), the USWNT would advance to the semifinals by a score of 2-1.
Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe
In the USWNT’s eighth straight semifinals appearance, they would face England. With 2 USA goals scored by Christen Press (10′) and Alex Morgan (31′), and one goal surrendered (Ellen White 19′), the USWNT would go on to the finals by defeating England 2-1.
Woman of the Match: Alex Morgan
In the FIFA Women’s World Cup final, the USWNT would go on to face the Women’s national team from the Netherlands in attempt to earn a fourth star (World Cup Championship). . The game was action-packed but scoreless at the half, which made it the first game in the World Cup that the USWNT did not score in the first 12 minutes of the match. The first goal of the final was scored off of a penalty kick that Megan Rapinoe was able to convert (61′). This goal makes Rapinoe the oldest Women’s national player to score a goal in a FIFA cup final. Shortly after the converted penalty kick, another USA goal was scored by Rose Lavelle (69′). The United States’ Women’s National Team would go on to become World Champions by defeating the Netherlands by a score of 2-0. Megan Rapinoe would go on to win both the 2019 FIFA Golden Ball, and then Golden Boot. Other awards were given to Alex Morgan (Silver Boot) and Rose Lavelle (Bronze Ball).
Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe
After this victory, the USWNT would go on to earn their fourth star (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019). Congratulations ladies, and thank you for setting an example for the young female athletes who look up to each and every one of you on the field. 23 strong females, 1 strong country. Go USA!
KA Sports Talk 