Women’s World Cup: Rapinoe’s double stuns France

USA faces England in the semifinals

Megan Rapinoe admitted it had been an unforgettable night after her brace took the United States through to the semifinals of the women’s World Cup on Friday, the holder beating France 2-1 here to puncture the hopes of the host nation.

Rapinoe’s free-kick five minutes into this quarterfinal evaded a sea of bodies in the box on its way into the net to stun the home crowd at the Parc des Princes.

The USA then soaked up pressure before delivering the knockout blow midway through the second half when Rapinoe turned in Tobin Heath’s centre, although Wendie Renard pulled a goal back for France to set up a tense finish.

Jill Ellis’ team held on and go through to a semifinal against England in Lyon next Tuesday as it seeks to retain its crown and win a fourth World Cup in eight editions.

“We didn’t have the best night on the ball but the focus defensively, and the willingness and the discipline to do what we did tonight is tremendous,” said the 33-year-old Rapinoe.

Crucial role

The pink-haired Rapinoe has been crucial on the field in this tournament, while dominating headlines off it thanks to her spat with US President Donald Trump over her refusal to attend any post-tournament reception at the White House.

She had already scored twice in the win over Spain in the last round and is now the joint top scorer at the tournament with five goals.

Meanwhile, France will leave its own tournament with more than a few regrets.

Only once before had it even made the semifinals, and for the second World Cup running its adventure ends in the last eight, the same stage at which it went out of the 2016 Olympics and the last three European Championships.

The result:

France 1 (Renard 81) lost to USA 2 (Rapinoe 5, 65).

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