USA 2 NETHERLANDS 0
United States claim fourth Women’s World Cup title with VAR-assisted win over the Netherlands
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THE USA retained their World Cup crown after seeing off Holland 2-0 in Lyon.
Having been held at bay for an hour, American icon Megan Rapinoe scored a penalty – given after a VAR check – before Rose Lavelle’s mazy run and fierce shot sealed the win.
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Heavy favourites entering the tournament, The Stars and Stripes have now won a whopping four World Cups, two more than Germany in second.
After a cagey start at the Stade de Lyon, the USA soon started to show their class.
Julie Ertz had the first shot on target after 27 minutes, her smashed volley forcing a smart save from Dutch keeper Sari van Veenedaal.
And Holland’s inspirational skipper between the sticks –who is unattached after being released by Arsenal earlier in the summer- continued her heroics.
In quick succession, she made a great save from another Ertz volley before denying England’s slayer Alex Morgan twice.
But their class soon shone through and after an hour they eventually found their past van Veenedaal – thanks to a helping hand from VAR.
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Trying to clear the ball, Stefanie van de Gragt KO’d Alex Morgan with a high boot to the shoulder, and after a look at the TV replays the penalty was awarded.
Skipper Rapinoe, 34 stepped up to wrong foot van Veenedaal to go level with team-mate Alex Morgan and England Lioness Ellen White on six goals in the tournament.
But Rapinoe was awarded the Golden Boot as her six goals and three assists came in fewer minutes than Morgan.
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And the game was all but over eight minutes later after the Dutch went gung-ho and left acres of space open at the back.
Lavelle, 24, waltzed past dangling Dutch legs and smashed home into the bottom corner – to lay further claim to be considered the best player in the world.
And it could have turned into a procession in the last 20 minutes, Holland only spared a thrashing through wasteful finishing and van Veenedaal.
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