OTTAWA: Footballing giants Germany and the United States set up a much-anticipated semi-final clash in the Women’s World Cup on Friday by beating France and China respectively.

But the world’s top two teams advanced to the final four in contrasting fashions.

Top-ranked Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 5-4 to break French hearts after the tie ended 1-1 after 120 minutes in Montreal.

The US overpowered China 1-0 in front of a largely American crowd of 24,000 fans at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Stadium thanks to a second-half Carli Lloyd goal.

The Americans came into the quarter-final in Ottawa missing two key players through suspension but proved far too strong for a young, defensively-minded Chinese side, who seemed more and more intimidated as the game went on.

Captain Lloyd scored the winner in the 51st minute, jumping high to head home a long looping cross from defender Julie Johnston.

“These are the moments I live for,” she said. “Having the freedom to attack and do what I do best enabled me to create some chances.”

The United States has reached the final four of all seven Women’s World Cups but have not won since beating China on penalties at home in 1999.

Seeking their third championship, the Americans have not allowed a goal in 423 minutes since the tournament opener against Australia.

OTTAWA: Carli Lloyd (top) of the US heads to score during the Women’s World Cup quarter-final against China at the Lansdowne Stadium.—Reuters

The US play top-ranked Germany, the 2003 and ‘07 champions, on Tuesday in Montreal with the match being a repeat of the 2003 semi-final, which Germany won 3-0.

Germany got past France thanks to the solid hands of goalkeeper Nadine Angerer, who cleared the final penalty of 20-year-old substitute Claire Lavogez.

France had strong support among the crowd of just under 25,000 in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal.

Louisa Necib, dubbed the “Female Zidane” of the French women’s game, could only rue a missed chance to score after just 49 seconds, before she finally nailed the opener on 64 minutes.

Celia Sasic levelled for Germany with a penalty six minutes from time, and in extra-time substitute Gaetane Thiney wasted a late chance to put France into the last four for the second straight time.

“We’re extremely elated, full of adrenaline right now,” said Angerer, 36, a former world player of the year, who was on both of Germany’s title-winning teams.

“It was hard work. We had to fight really hard and we were rewarded.”

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2015

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