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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42 minutes
Not quite, but there's a touch on it, and it'll be a Dutch corner, their first of the game.
43 minutes
Headed away, and tamely lifted back into the hands of Alyssaa Naeher by Desiree van Lunteren.
44 minutes
Alex Morgan concedes a foul, somehow, as two Dutch players seem to sandwich her as the trio compete for a floating ball.
45 minutes
Into two minutes of stoppage time, and oh dear...
A nasty, properly nasty, clash of heads and fall between Kelly O'Hara and Lieke Martens, both completely blameless and with eyes only for the ball, and the medics are hastily called for.
45 + 2 minutes
Pleasingly, both are back on their feet relatively swiftly.
45 + 3 minutes
Vivianne Miedema drives at the American defence and gets to the byline, going past Abby Dahlkemper but not finding a teammate, but Sherida Spitse wins a corner.
An intriguing half of football, that. The USA have had more of the game, but aside from one five minute flurry really struggled to create chances, and a string of strong saves from Sari van Veenendaal has thus far kept them out.
The Dutch have threatened, particularly with the pace of Lineth Beerensteyn in behind, working the space between the two USA centre backs. Vivianne Miedema has been deployed in a creative role slightly deeper and grew into the half as it went on, and the longer the game stays goalless the more confidence the Dutch will have. They've certainly got a goal or two in them, and are troubling the Americans with their physicality.
You do wonder if the rigours of that 120-minute semi-final may yet play their part, however, though the Dutch have been strong in the last 20 minutes so far in the tournament.
Indeed, it's all set up rather nicely for the second half. Could go either way, this...
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