Carli Lloyd #10 celebrates as she heads the ball past goalkeeper Wang Fei #12 of China in the second half for her team's first goal in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 quarterfinal match at Lansdowne Stadium on June 26, 2015 in Ottawa, Canada.
A lone Carli Lloyd header six minutes after half-time was enough for USA to see off a gallant China PR in the Canada 2015 quarter-final in Ottawa.
The Stars and Stripes dominated much of the match and were worthy winners as they maintain their record of featuring in every FIFA Women’s World Cup™ semi-final.
It took USA just minutes to create the first chance – and what a chance it was. Amy Rodriguez’s pace sent her beyond the Chinese defence and clean through on goal. The Beverly Hills native attempted an elaborate chip, but she got it all wrong and the ball went comfortably wide.
Midway through the half the ladies in red came under significant pressure. A neat passing move ended with Alex Morgan shooting straight at Wang, before Tobin Heath chased what appeared a lost cause down the left, kept the ball in play, conned her marker and crossed for Kelly O’Hara, whose diving header went narrowly wide.
The China goalkeeper then spilled a high, hanging cross into the path of Julie Johnston, but the defender’s close-range shot was blocked one yard out. Wang swiftly redeemed herself, repelling a vicious, swerving Lloyd free-kick.
Lloyd was not to be denied soon after the break powering home a towering header from a Julie Johnston cross. Ali Krieger rattled the crossbar with a sweet strike but USA were unable to put the game away with a second.
USA will now face Germany in Montreal on Tuesday in a potentially epic semi-final meeting.
