Their future is undoubtedly bright. In recent games — against Chile and Sweden — the U.S. dominance did not always translate to the scoreboard, and this feels like a similar deal. Hedvig Lindahl, however, came to her rescue when she produced a stunning save low to her right to keep out Janine Beckie's penalty. Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso scores a game-tying goal against the United States. Ellis leapt off the bench and embraced her assistant coaches as the crowd roared. Alex Morgan had a game for the ages against Thailand in the USA’s opening game of the World Cup, tying a World Cup record with five goals while adding three assists. That’s more of a time-wasting move at this point, but they will kill the clock any way they can right now. Alex Morgan took some early shots against Spain. Spain is seen as the most rapidly ascendant national team in women’s soccer, embodying in many ways the global flow of power and, potentially, the future of the sport, as more of Europe’s traditional men’s soccer powers turn their attention to the women’s side of the game. Morgan. After an uninspiring first half, it took 55 minutes for the game's first real chance to emerge when Sweden counterattacked dangerously from its own half. Heath cuts in from the right and Maria Léon just swipes her ankles. Lavelle with a gorgeous pass that splits open the Spain defense and leads Rapinoe perfectly on the left wing. Morgan points this out to Kulcsar, who is probably it wasn’t her that knocked her down to be honest. In trying to play out from defense, Becky Sauerbrunn lost possession on the edge of her box, and Spain pounced with a delightful finish from Jennifer Hermoso. One big surprise in the United States lineup today: Lindsey Horan sits, replaced in midfield by the returning Julie Ertz (and also by Sam Mewis in a sense, since she stays). The opponents will only get better from here, but Diacre, who is under immense pressure to deliver France’s first major trophy, still thinks her players are up to the task. Huge sighs of relief on the U.S. bench, and in the huddle around Rapinoe. Julie Ertz will reach 85 caps today. World Cup fans chant in support of equal pay, Trump weighs in on equal pay for female athletes, Rapinoe: We are a proud, strong and defiant group of women, WWC 2019 Roundtable: On the field moments. The 12 goals are 40% of her career total. Alyssa Naeher will reach cap No. The winner of today’s U.S.-Spain match in Reims advances to a quarterfinal against France on Friday at Parc des Princes in Paris. But on Monday, the Americans kept control of this moment in time. But something seems off. Morgan. But all those things — the moments of enmity, the aggression, the gamesmanship and the histrionics, even the mistakes — made this the United States’ most conventionally entertaining match of the tournament. She will earn cap No. Only Lindsey Horan and Emily Sonnett are warming up at the moment, but Mallory Pugh did earlier. She played the first half against Chile before being rested and sat out the match against Sweden due to precautionary reasons. Mewis is tied for second on the U.S. team in goals this year with six. Players from both sides tangled themselves into tackles, limbs flailing, shoving and groping for space. Spain has been more physical with the U.S. than any team it has faced since, maybe, Canada last year. Heath. “I’m running over here Rose ...”. Yes, France has won every match. That was a no-doubt: hard and low to the left-side netting. Under his successor, Jorge Vilda -- at 37 the youngest coach at the tournament -- much has changed, and the tenacity and talent of the players in only the country's second Women's World Cup was testimony to the improvements made in recent years. ", Rapinoe said Spain was a "bit heavy in the challenge. Rapinoe fumes at the ref, rolling her eyes, but slaps hands with Corredera as if to say, “My bad.”. Crystal Dunn has 24 career international goals and will earn cap No. But we’re happy to take on that challenge and try to emulate it.”. Watch Spain take on USA in this 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Match. Megan Rapinoe opened the scoring with a penalty kick. Morgan has scored 33 goals over her last 37 WNT matches, a span that runs from the end of 2017. “They are a good team. Beckie's effort was the 22nd penalty of the tournament, the same number seen in the whole of the previous World Cup in 2015. That’s the first goal the United States has allowed at the World Cup after scoring 19, and Naeher will be kicking herself. The United States won that day, on a goal by Christen Press. By Roger Gonzalez. United States lineup: Alyssa Naeher, Crystal Dunn, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Kelley O’Hara; Julie Ertz, Sam Mewis, Rose Lavelle; Megan Rapinoe (c), Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Spain lineup: Sandra Paños; Marta Corredera, Irene Paredes (c), Maria León, Leila Ouahabi; Vicky Losada, Aleixa Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Virginia Torrecilla; Jenni Hermoso, Lucia García. 120. In the United States' toughest challenge at the. Megan Rapinoe’s two penalty kicks sent the United States into the quarterfinals, where host France awaits.