USA win the Women’s World Cup after victory over Netherlands
Relive the USA’s historic victory over the Netherlands in Lyon
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Your support makes all the difference.The USA have won the 2019 Women's World Cup after a battling victory over the Netherlands in Lyon.
Second half goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle were enough to see the 2015 winners through to a win which sees them successfully defend the crown won in Canada four years ago.
The 2-0 win sees them lift the World Cup for a second time in a row and a fourth time in their history.
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Storm in a teacup?
Alex Morgan is the favourite for the World Cup Golden Boot, level with Ellen White at the top of the goalscoring charts but with a greater number of assists, and thus only really teammate Megan Rapinoe can usurp her with a couple of goals today.
Of course, Morgan will be eyeing a goal or two of her own, and another of her carefully considered celebrations after her tea sipping drew the ire of many England fans in the semi-final. We could be verging into some questionable territory if she lampoons Dutch cafe culture...
Temperatures of upwards of 30 degrees celsius to warm the two sets of players as they go through their pre-game preparations. The Groupama Stadium is bathed in rather bright late afternoon sunshine, and the stands are filling nicely, particularly with Dutch supporters. Plenty of orange.
The clock ticks on and we are just under 15 minutes away from kick-off in Lyon.
The USA have had superb starts to every game throughout the tournament, and really target an early goal to put their opponents on the back foot. Sarina Wiegman will no doubt have instructed her team to try and survive that opening 15 minutes or so, and then hopefully build from there. Such has been their prolific nature in getting that early goal that we don't really know how the US will respond to being frustrated in front of goal.
The teams are in the tunnel, the commemorative flags and banners are spread in all their glory and the pre-match atmosphere sounds intense.
Barely an empty seat in the ground as the two teams stride out for the anthems. The US work down the line with high-tens, the Netherlands calmly assemble themselves without much fuss.
The USA bench steps on to the touchline to sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner', only Megan Rapinoe not singing, for perfectly credible and admirable reasons. She's clearly hurting, the USA captain, not feeling able to sing the anthem of her country on the world's biggest stage.
Smiles on the faces of the Netherlands players as they work through their anthem, 'Wilhelmus', and a look of composure on the face of manager Sarina Wiegman, who closes with a couple of claps and walks back to her bench.
A proud moment for Stephanie Frappart, officiating the World Cup Final in her home country. Ireland's Michelle O'Neill is one of her assistants, while Carlos Del Cerro Grande is in the truck should VAR be required at any stage today, which it almost certainly will be.
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