Goal scorers in world cup

LYON: The United States retained the women's World Cup on Sunday (Jul 7) as a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a Rose Lavelle strike gave the holders a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands in the final in Lyon, prompting new questions over a potential visit to Donald Trump's White House. Rapinoe stroked home from 12 yards to put the USA ahead just after the hour mark and end the tournament as joint top scorer on six goals after making headlines for stating she would boycott any team visit to the presidential mansion after the tournament. Coach Jill Ellis remained coy on whether the team would carry out the visit if invited, saying that she "wouldn't bet" on an invite coming. However the US President put their spat to one side to congratulate the team, tweeting: "Congratulations to the US Women's Soccer Team on winning the World Cup! Great and exciting play. America is proud of you all!" The whippet-like Lavelle, another stand-out performer over the last month, got the second goal … [Read more...] about Football: USA retain Women’s World Cup as Rapinoe, Lavelle sink Netherlands

LYON: Megan Rapinoe made it a special hat-trick on Sunday (Jul 7) as she won Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the Women's World Cup after scoring as the United States beat the Netherlands to retain their title. Rapinoe bagged the Golden Boot for top scorer after opening the scoring from the spot in the USA's 2-0 final win over the Netherlands in Lyon to make it six goals and three assists from her five appearances in France, the same total as teammate Alex Morgan but in fewer minutes. The 34-year-old, who may have played her last World Cup, won the Golden Ball for a series of match-winning displays which dragged the Americans to the trophy. She scored the only goals in the USA's tight 2-1 wins over Spain and hosts France, with the second brace coming in the middle of a media storm after a video surfaced of her saying she would refuse to visit the White House should her side win the competition. She missed the last four victory over England, also won 2-1, with a hamstring injury … [Read more...] about Football: Rapinoe wins Golden Ball and Golden Boot at Women’s World Cup

LYON: Megan Rapinoe has revealed that she should be fit for the Women's World Cup final after admitting she was left out of the United States' 2-1 defeat of England due to a hamstring injury. USA coach Jill Ellis had caused a stir when her starting XI did not feature the 33-year-old despite her dragging her side to the semi-finals with match-winning performances against Spain and France, and she revealed that she had picked up the knock late in the quarter-final win over the French. "It's just minor hamstring, not even a strain really, but not really able to go today. It felt like it wasn't going to hold up so ... it just felt like this was the best option for the team," said Rapinoe. "I'm expecting to be fit for the final and ready to go." Rapinoe scored both goals in the holders' 2-1 quarter-final win against hosts France, having also hit a double against Spain in the last 16. After missing Tuesday's clash she is now one behind the tournament's joint top scorers Alex … [Read more...] about Football: Injured Rapinoe ‘expects’ to be fit for Women’s World Cup final

LE HAVRE, France: England's women have their sights set on ending their semi-final curse after a stunning strike by Lucy Bronze helped Phil Neville's team to a 3-0 win over Norway in Le Havre on Thursday (Jun 27) and took them into the last four of the World Cup. David Beckham, a former colleague of Neville's for Manchester United and England, was among the crowd of more than 21,000 at the Stade Oceane to see midfield stalwart Jill Scott open the scoring inside three minutes, becoming just the second English player to score at three separate women's World Cups. Ellen White then grabbed her fifth goal of the tournament five minutes prior to half-time and Bronze made sure of the victory with a rising shot high into the net as the hour mark approached. England were so comfortable towards the end that they could even afford to squander a penalty, with Nikita Parris having her late spot-kick saved. There were striking similarities between Bronze's effort here and her goal that … [Read more...] about Football: England into Women’s World Cup semi-finals after seeing off Norway

REIMS, France: Holders the United States began their defence of the Women's World Cup trophy in style on Tuesday (Jun 11) as Alex Morgan scored five times in an incredible, record-setting 13-0 destruction of hapless Thailand in Reims. Ten of their goals came in the second half as the USA set a new mark for the biggest winning margin in a women's World Cup match, bettering Germany's 11-0 defeat of Argentina in 2007. Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis netted twice each while Lindsey Horan, skipper Megan Rapinoe and substitutes Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also found the net for the USA in an embarrassingly one-sided Group F encounter watched by a crowd of more than 18,000 at the Stade Auguste-Delaune. The result also far outstrips the USA's own record result in a World Cup match, which had been their 7-0 defeat of Taiwan in the quarter-finals of the first tournament in 1991. Morgan was the star of the show, with her five goals in one game equalling the record for a player in a … [Read more...] about Football: USA open Women’s World Cup defence with record 13-0 victory