The fans cheered ON!
The Hosts and the Holders kicked off their Quarterfinal in front of a massive crowd in a Game of the Greats. And it’s no understatement!
The first chance came banging in the first 50 seconds as Rapinoe made a run on the left flank right up to the box, Ertz shadowed her to her right, Rapinoe sent in the ball right through the defense, but Ertz shot it right into Goalie Bouhaddi’s hands!
Aaaanddd USA struck in the 5th minute!Mbick Bathy’s challenge on Morgan won USA a free kick from the left flank, and the hosts-a yellow! Megan Rapinoe took it and shot it right into the net!
France looked upfront in the 12th minute as No. 10 Majri made a stride along the left flank, took the ball further, Bussaglia received a pass, slid it to Sommer whose shot was deflected.
USA capitalised and hit back as Rapinoe made another threatening run to the box with Morgan who ultimately shot the ball into the Goalie’s gloves.
Another close call came in the 16th minute as Thiney, Bussaglia made a run in the American half, were dispossessed and Rapinoe took on the deflection making an unopposed run right through the French half, but the Bouhadii sensed it and ran outside the box to challenge Rapinoe with a sliding tackle-, dispossessed her and shot the ball to safety for an Outside! Close and clever!
Thiney, Bussaglia and Gauvin made chances around the box as striker Sommer tried to push through the defense.
24th minute saw forward Diani make a run on the right flank upto box. Henry received the pass, tackled across, passed it further in but couldn’t get past the defense.
Morgan had a little (long!) Moment in the 30th minute sitting on the field, confused and fazed. Weird!
More importantly, Diani was on FIRE! She capitalised the right flank and made glorious runs! The 35th minute saw at least 3 USA players flog Diani, but she did not lose the ball! RESPECT!
The 38th minute saw O’Hara make a nasty bump into Majri. France won a free kick but shot it into Naeher’s gloves! In the next minute, USA won a free kick for a challenge Lavelle. Mewis headed it out of play for the Holders.
44th minute saw Diani head the ball metres away from the post to her right! This was the closest France came to breaking up USA’S defense.
2 minutes were added to regulation time. France won an outside, but Lavelle came rushing in from nowhere, won the ball and ran on the right flank upto the box, crossed across the field, passed it to Mewis who got the last chance of the first half, shooting right into the Goalie’s hands.
Throughout the first half chances and fouls kept pouring in. The French defense was at times broken up unlike their opponents’. Les Bleus’ Forwards were great upfront but the defense was too well built to get in.
USA did what it does best- counterattacks and set pieces! Rapinoe was their key into the French half, capitalising every possible chance to get inside and being fully aware of which of her teammates would not be ruled OFFSIDE! Now that’s a beautiful mind!
The second half kicked off.
45th minute saw Rapinoe make another run, passed it to Mewis who took the shot but the French goalie dived to her left and deflected it. Heath reached it, took another shot, Bouhaddi saved it again and sent it for a corner. The corner ball came in, Morgan took it and shot it right at Henry’s shins who jumped and saved the shot!
50th minute saw Sommer invade the American box, but kept the ball too long and lost possession. Les Bleus kept the ball for a while. Thiney passed the ball to Henry, Sommer ran inside the box, Henry looked to pass it on but the ball was deflected by Ertz and corner kick was given. Diani was all over the field-defense, attack and everything in between! She kept Rapinoe under her watch, and what a job doing that!
57th minute was a miss for France as Diani struggled against USA No. 19 Dunn, kept the ball passed it inside, Gauvin couldn’t reach it, Le Sommer got to it but shot right on the left net!
The next minute saw Diani make a run alongside two US defenders, took the shot, but saved!
The 60th minute mark saw quick changes of possession between the two teams as the ball ping-ponged along the midline.
Rapinoe struck yet again in the 65th minute to make it 2-0 for USA! Heath made a run on the right flank, passed it inside the box, Mewis ran just ahead of it but Rapinoe crept forward UNMARKED and shot in her 5th goal of the tournament! The Beauty!
69th minute saw Gauvin come close but ruled OFFSIDE ! 71st minute and Majri shot it over the net from the left flank. France won a corner in the 72nd minute, Majri took it and sent it in, Sommer reached it but headed it lightly into Naeher’s gloves.
75th minute saw Heath shoot in a Crystal Dunn pass but ruled OFFSIDE! Gauvin was substituted for Cascarino. 77th minute- Henry made a run upto the box, passed it to Sommer who stumbled on it but Henry regained the possession and shot it staright, but Naeher saved it!
The 80th minute brought some relief as 6 feet 2″ tall Renard headed in a Thiney free kick. A short celebration and the French went back to their posts marking the need of the hour!
Rapinoe made way for Press as she walked off in the 86th minute.
The Diani-Dunn battle continued along the flank for the whole match as they kept each other under check , winning and losing possession to each other time and again!
5 minutes were added.
The 2nd added saw Majri send in a pass to Bathy who outran Heath but was dispossessed.
With 2 minutes left, Bussaglia was shown a yellow for a challenge on Morgan.
USA resorted to time wasting techniques, keeping the ball on the flanks and out of play by outsides!F
was much fiercer in the second half. They attacked more and the defense was crisper, but not enough to challenge the Champs. Sommer misfired quite a bit, Henry fought hard and Diani was just incomparable!
The Americans were devilishly accurate, leapt onto the ball at every possible chance and delivered at every opportunity! The Champs for a reason!
The hosts have been eliminated by reigning Champions. USA has done it again! Onto the semifinals for the Women in White!!!
All the views above are author’s own. They are not meant to offend anyone. This is not an official coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. The author owns no rights in this tournament
Trailblazers! 
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