USWNT vs. England results: Alyssa Naeher's penalty save sends USA to World Cup final

Jamila St. Ann

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USWNT vs. England results: Alyssa Naeher's penalty save sends USA to World Cup final image

Happy birthday, Alex Morgan!

You and the United States women's national team will go on to defend your title as champions in the final. In the semifinals of the FIFA Women's World Cup, the USWNT held strong against England's best efforts.

MORE: Film study shows England finally closing gap on U.S.

Christen Press was the surprise starter for the USWNT after questions sprang up around Megan Rapinoe's injury status. She scored the match's first goal in the 10th minute off a cross sent in by Kelley O'Hara.

England would answer shortly thereafter, with Ellen White scoring her sixth goal of the tournament just nine minutes later, beating the U.S. defense on a volley in the 18.

In the 34th minute, Morgan celebrated her birthday with a goal of her own off a cross from Lindsey Horan.

England's White would go on to find the back of the net again in the 67th minute, but after VAR review her goal would be called back.

And it was White who drew a penalty after a review to give England a chance to tie the match in the 81st minute. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher read Stephanie Houghton's run up the whole way and saved her PK to keep the U.S. lead.

Morgan now leads the Golden Boot race, scoring her sixth goal of the tournament in the match.

The USWNT will play the winner of Wednesday's second semifinal match between Sweden and the Netherlands at 3 p.m. ET.

The World Cup final will be played Sunday, July 7 at 11 a.m. ET in Lyon, France. The game will be aired on FOX and can also be streamed via fuboTV, which offers a 7-day trial.

Sporting News tracked scores, updates and highlights from the match between the USWNT and England at the 2019 Women's World Cup semifinals. See how it played out below.

USWNT vs. England: Live scores and highlights from 2019 Women's World Cup

USA: 2
England: 1

All times Eastern. 

 

4:53 p.m. 90+7 - IT'S OVER. THE USWNT IS HEADING TO ITS FIFTH WORLD CUP FINAL.

4:51 p.m. | 90+4 - Yellow card for England's Nikita Parris for persistent infrigement. 

4:47 p.m. | 87' - Ali Krieger comes on for O'Hara after the goal. 

4:47 p.m. | 87' - SECOND YELLOW FOR BRIGHT. She goes studs up on Alex Morgan, on her birthday no less, and is sent off. 

4:40 p.m. | 83' - SAVE. ALYSSA FREAKING NAEHER. Stephanie Houghton takes the PK to her right side and Naeher stops it on the line.

4:39 p.m. | 82' - So after LONG REVIEW they're giving England a penalty on VAR. Conceded, allegedly by Becky Sauerbrunn.

4:36 p.m. | 79' - Carli Lloyd, the icon, replaces Tobin Heath. 

4:27 p.m. | 71' - Sub for England. Jade Moore replaces Keira Walsh.

4:24 p.m. | 67' - ELLEN WHITE SCORES FOR ENGLAND BUT VAR CALLS HER OFFSIDE. EVERYBODY BREATHE.

4:21 p.m. | 65' - Rose Lavelle comes off clutching her hamstring. Sam Mewis comes on in her palce. 

4:14 p.m. | 58' - Substitution for England. Francesca Kirby comes on for Beth Mead.

4:12 p.m. | 56' - We've got end to end action right now, but nothing to note. So here's a great take on the American flag, that I think we should consider using!

4:02 p.m. | 46' - The ball is rolling for the second half. WE BACK.

3:53 p.m. - Alyssa Naeher appreciation moment. This save was UNREAL. 

3:47 p.m. | 45+2 - Halftime. The USWNT lead England 2-1 at the break. 

3:45 p.m. | 45' - Corner for England conceded by Crystal Dunn.

3:42 p.m. | 42' - Corner U.S. Tobin Heath sends in an inswinging ball, but England clears for a U.S. throw in. 

3:31 p.m. | 31' - GOAL! ON HER BIRTHDAY! Lindsey Horan sends a PEACH of a ball into the six, and Alex Morgan, the birthday girl gets her sixth goal of the tournament off her head.

3:28 p.m. | 28' - Corner for England. Becky Sauerbrun almost sends it into the back of her own net, but Mead's cross doesn't even end up in play. 

3:19 p.m. |19' - GOAL. Who else but Ellen White to tie this game up?! Beth Mead beats O'Hara on the left side and White slips through two defenders for a right footed volley home.

3:09 p.m. | 9' - GOAL! CHRISTEN PRESS. A header sent in by Kelley O'Hara on a DIME finds Press' head for a perfect finish and her first goal of the tournament!

3:07 p.m. | 7' - Reason for Rapinoe's substitute status maybe?

3:05 p.m. | 5' - ROSE LAVELLE WITH THE NUTMEG AND SHOT. But dang, great reaction save by England's Carly Telford. Filthy from Rosey, though. 

3:03 p.m. | 3' - Corner for the U.S. Rose Lavelle sends it in, but England clear. 

3:00 p.m. | 1' - Kickoff. Here. We. Go. 

Pregame

2:56 p.m. - Anthems are playing. It's almost go time. 

2:45 p.m. - It's Alex Morgan's 30th birthday on this semifinal gameday! But she has important business to attend to first ...

2:34 p.m. - England will be in the home white and the U.S. will suit up in the away red.

2:06 p.m. - Here's the USWNT's starting XI. Rapinoe rested as Christen Press gets her second start of the tournament.

Jamila St. Ann