KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- It was all supposed to be a one-horse race at the Women’s World Cup Final in Lyon: the American world champions against the Dutch European champions with an expectation that the reigning champions would march all over the old world upstarts.

That was how it ended though it was not until after the hour mark that outspoken captain Megan Rapinoe, from a penalty, and then Rose Lavelle secured 2-0 command of a match in which their drive, commitment, discipline and athleticism proved decisive. The US had suffered only one defeat in two years and this was never going to be a second.

Celebration time for the United States --- again!

Rapinoe also collected awards as the best player at the finals and the leading scorer – her tally of six goals and three assists having been achieved in fewer minutes than those of team-mate Alex Morgan.

Victory was a fourth world title for the US to add to their Olympic quartet after the most outstanding Women’s World Cup thus far. If the US were a different class in France it was partly due to the rise in international standards which had pushed them to raise even their own dominant game.

Early exchanges

The US had scored within the opening 12 minutes of every match and Dutch awareness of the need to stay tight may have played a part in Sherida Spitze collecting the first yellow card from French referee Stephanie Frappard for taking down Lavelle in the ninth minute.

Netherlands duly survived the opening 20 minutes in front of a 57,900 crowd with a rigidly cautious formation which encouraged the US to command attacking possession. But chances had to come and the first fell to the US in the 27th minute after a corner.

Lavelle’s fierce volley after a corner was parried away by keeper Sari van Veenendaal to the applauding delight of Dutch King  Willem-Alexander. Van Veenendaal was then forced  into brilliant reaction saves within a matter of minutes from Julie Ertz and Alex Morgan twice.

Netherlands raced away on the transition and US centre-back Abby Dahlkemper was booked for bringing down fast-breaking Lineth Beerensteyn. The free kick went to waste but the Dutch, encouraged, began to press forward in the closing minutes before the interval.

This was the first time the US had not scored in a first half at these finals while the Netherlands did not have a shot of any description until the first-half stoppage time. On the other hand, nine of the latters’ 11 goals had come in the second half.

Injury change

The only half-time change saw the US bring on Ali Krieger for her third successive World Cup Final appearance as substitute for Kelley O’Hara who had been hurt in a clash of heads with Martens just before the break.

Initial action in the second half mirrored the first, with the US pressing upward and onward and they duly took the lead after referee Frappart checked her VAR screen  and awarded the US a penalty after Morgan had been brought down by Stefanie Van der Gragt.

Purple-haired Rapinoe, , back in the US line-up after missing the semi-final victory over England through injury, rolled the spot kick low to Van Veenendahl’s left. It was her sixth goal in the tournament.

Eight minutes later and the match was effectively over as Lavelle capitalised on the space opening up in the Dutch defence to strike a second goal. This took the total for the finals to 146, matching the tally from Canada four years ago.

Netherlands brought on attacking substitutes but this only left them even more vulnerable in defence and it took yet another fine save from Van Veenendahl, this time from Crystal Dunn, to keep them clinging on in the game.

Tobin Heath twice wasted opportunities to add to the score before fatigue led to replacement by Carli Lloyd who could thus share her 281st and possibly  last international with a new generation of world champions.

Megan Rapinoe follows up on her breakthrough penalty

TOURNAMENT AWARDS:

Fair play: France
Golden Boot: Megan Rapine (US: six goals, three asists, 428min)
Silver Boot: Alex Morgan (US: six goals, three assists, 490min)
Bronze Boot: Ellen White (Eng: six goals, 0 assists, 504min)
Golden glove (goalkeeping): Sari Van Veenendahl (Net)
Golden ball (best player): Megan Rapinoe (US)
Young player: Giulia Gwinn (Germany).

KNOCKOUT STAGE:

Group stage:

GROUP A
France 3 3 0 0 7 1 9
Norway 3 2 0 1 6 3 6
Nigeria 3 1 0 2 2 4 3
South Korea 3 0 0 3 1 8 0

GROUP B
Germany 3 3 0 0 6 0 9
Spain 3 1 1 1 3 2 4
China 3 1 1 1 1 1 4
South Africa 3 0 0 3 1 8 0

GROUP C
Italy 3 2 0 1 7 2 6
Austral 3 2 0 1 8 5 6
Brazil 3 2 0 1 6 3 6
Jamaica 3 0 0 3 1 12 0

GROUP D
England 3 3 0 0 5 1 9
Japan 3 1 1 1 2 3 4
Argentina 3 0 2 1 3 4 2
Scotland 3 0 1 2 5 1

GROUP E
Holland 3 3 0 0 6 2 9
Canada 3 2 0 1 4 2 6
Cameroon 3 1 0 2 3 5 3
New Zealand 3 0 0 3 1 5 0

GROUP F
United States  3 3 0 0 18 0 9
Sweden 3 2 0 1 7 3 6
Chile 3 1 0 2 2 5 3
Thailand 3 0 0 3 1 20 0

2nd rnd:

Germany 3,Nigeria 0; Norway 1, Australia 1 (4-1 pens, aet); France 2, Brazil 1 aet; England 3, Cameroon 0; Spain 1, US 2; Sweden 1, Canada 0; Italy 2, China 0; Netherlands 2, Japan 1.

Quarter-finals:

Norway 0, England 3; France 1, United States 2; Italy 0, Netherlands 2; Germany 1, Sweden 2.

Semi-finals:

England 1, US 2; Netherlands 2, Sweden 0.

Third place play-off:

Sweden 2, England 1.

Final:

United States 2, Netherlands 0.

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