The all-around favorite of superstar Megan Rapinoe surprisingly lost 0:1 (0:0) in the semi-final against Canada on Monday. While the underdogs celebrated the greatest success in Canadian football history, American women this time could win a maximum of four gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, 2012) and the most recent bronze after winning two consecutive World Cup titles. In the final, Canada will face the winner of the game between Sweden and Australia, while the USA will face the loser.
At Kashima, the Americans were unlucky in the first half when goalkeeper Alyssa Nahar was injured in a collision and had to be replaced. She was the match-winner against European champions Netherlands in the quarter-finals, with three penalties saved.
Canada’s Jesse Fleming found the role in the semi-finals when she converted a penalty kick in the 74th minute. The goal turned the game upside down, as the Americans were the dominant team. However, the US remained pretty harmless on the offensive. Germany’s Rio Olympic champions were not in Japan.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210802-99-665930/2
