The US Women's team faced England Women's team in the semifinals of the World Cup on July 2. The star player of the US team and their co-captain Megan Rapinoe was out of the lineup, which left everyone surprised. In her place came the 30-year-old Christen Press.
Everyone doubted if the US without Rapinoe - with five goals to her name in this tournament, could win. Megan is also the Americans’ co-leading scorer in France.
But the move by U.S. Coach Jill Ellis looked brilliant.
Christen Press first gave the US team lead in the 10th minute, heading the long cross from Kelley O’Hara pass the English goalkeeper Carly Telford.
CHRISTEN PRESS! ????????
No Rapinoe, no problem! The USWNT takes the early lead again and has now scored in the first 15 minutes in every single game this #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Xqu3u0m56V
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2019
“I have been honestly watching Carli Lloyd practice her headers every single day for the last two years,” she told Fox after becoming the ninth different U.S. player to score in this year’s World Cup. “I never join in, I just watch, and I like to think maybe that helped in that moment. I channeled my inner Carli Lloyd.”
Press said after the win.
Ellen White leveled the score in the 19th minute but 31th-minute goal from Alex Morgan would see the Americans seal their place in the finals. They will now face the winner of Netherlands vs Sweden in the finals.
