US set up quarter-final showdown with France

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United States’ Julie Ertz (right), jumps for the ball with Spain’s Patri Guijarro (center), and Lucia Garcia during the Women’s World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Spain and United States at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, France on June 24. (AP)

Rapinoe breaks Spain heart

REIMS, France, June 24, (RTRS): The United States needed two Megan Rapinoe penalties, one of them controversially confirmed after a lengthy VAR review, to beat Spain 2-1 on Monday and set up a quarter-final clash with hosts France at the Women’s World Cup.

The winning spot kick was subject to much debate but Rapinoe converted it with 15 minutes left after her opening penalty had been cancelled out by Jennifer Hermoso early in the first half.

After breezing through the group phase, holders the US lacked inspiration and conceded their first goal of the tournament as Spain rose to the occasion in searing heat at the Stade Auguste-Delaune.

France, who the US will meet in Paris on Friday for a place in the last four, scraped through the last 16 with a 2-1 win against Brazil after extra time on Sunday.

It took the US only seven minutes to break the deadlock as Tobin Heath was brought down in the area, with Rapinoe coolly converting the resulting penalty.

US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, however, was not at her best and poor positioning allowed Hermoso to equalise two minutes later with a lob into the net.

The champions were still all over Spain though and Rapinoe twice came close as Heath tormented the defence on the right.

Spain defended well although they lost midfielder Vicky Losada, who was replaced by Nahikari Garcia, because of swelling around her eye following a clash early in the game.

The Spanish centre backs did a great job at containing Alex Morgan and the US seemed short of ideas up front.

Their salvation came when Rose Lavelle fell in the box after slight contact with Virginia Torrecilla, prompting referee Katalin Kulcsar to award a penalty, which was confirmed by VAR review to Spain’s understandable frustration. Rapinoe buried the spot kick and, with only 15 minutes left, the US controlled the rest of the game.

France captain Amandine Henry came to the rescue as the hosts scraped into the women’s World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win against Brazil after extra time.

Henry found the back of the net in the 107th minute of a tense game at the Stade Oceane after Thaisa had cancelled out Valerie Gauvin’s second-half opener.

Les Bleues struggled to make their early domination count due to the lack of a killer instinct that prevented them wrapping up victory inside 90 minutes.

 “It was a… very tense game against a formidable opponent but we did not give up and we wore them down,” said France coach Corinne Diacre.

“I would have liked us to play more in the first half so the second half would have been easier but I guess this will be freeing us for the remainder of the tournament.” Brazil’s Marta said: “I’m proud of our performance, the grit that we showed until the end. That’s the feeling that I will keep with me.

“Those are the kind of matches that will help women’s football to continue to grow.” With Brazil’s veteran Formiga returning to the starting lineup, the South Americans appeared to suffer physically as France stamped their authority on a foul-ridden match.

Les Bleues, however, lacked sharpness up front until the 26th minute when Gauvin fired home from Kadidiatou Diani’s cross, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review ruled the striker headed the ball out of goalkeeper Barbara’s hands.

The decision deflated France and Diacre’s players were less aggressive, allowing Brazil to grow into the game.

The French were back in business after the break though and the Diani-Gauvin duo struck again, the Montpellier forward latching onto a cross from the winger to open the scoring in the 52nd minute.

Brazil came close to an equaliser four minutes later when France keeper Sarah Bouhaddi tipped a Cristiane header onto the bar.

But the leveller came in the 63rd when Thaisa beat Bouhaddi with a low cross-shot, the goal being allowed following a VAR review after first being ruled out by referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin.

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