News :
Women's World Cup: USA beat Spain and are in the quarter-finals
With two penalties, Megan Rapinoe shot the reigning world champions from the USA into the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France. The contested last sixteen match against Spain won the favored Americans 2: 1 (1: 1). Rapinoe scored twice on penalties (6th and 75th minute), Jennifer Hermoso was in the meantime equalized (9) In the quarter-finals, the USA will meet the hosts from France next Friday (9 pm, Liveticker SPIEGEL ONLINE).
The game started explosively: Tobin Heath dribbled through the penalty area of the Spaniards, passed the ball to María León and was brought down by her. The Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsár pointed to the point. In contrast to some refereeing decisions at the World Cup this penalty kick did not cause great protests. Rapinoe (6th) converted the penalty to 1: 0.
However, Spain did not lose sight of the leadership of the favorites. The Europeans attacked the US construction game early. Center-back Becky Sauerbrunn lost the ball on her own penalty area and Hermoso lifted the ball from 16 meters past goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher into the right-hand corner (9). It was the first goal of the USA in the current tournament.
The Americans were indeed more involved, but against defensive Spaniards lacked long but dangerous conclusions. Only in the long shot of Rose Lavelle in the 60th Minute, it was again really dangerous before the goal of Sandra Paños. In return, the Spaniard Patri Guijarro narrow shot narrowly past the US goal (63)
Shortly thereafter, Lavelle was hit in the Virginia penalty area and taken out of step. Referee Kulcsár decided again on penalties, but the decision was confirmed by using the video images. Rapinoe also turned that penalty into the left corner (75 ') and shot the USA into the quarter-finals. There they meet France, who won on Sunday evening after extra time 2: 1 (0: 0, 1: 1) against Brazil.
Spain - USA 1: 2 (1: 1)
0: 1 Rapinoe (7th, penalty)
1: 1 Hermoso (9th)
1: 2 Rapinoe (75th, penalty kick)
Spain: Paños - Leila, María León, Paredes, M. Corredera - Patri, Virginia (83rd Caldentey), Losada (32nd N. García) - Alexia (78th Falcon), Hermoso, L. García
UNITED STATES: Nearer - Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, O'Hara - Mewis, Ertz, Lavelle (89th Horan) - Rapinoe (90th Press), Morgan (85th Lloyd) - Heath
Yellow cards: Paredes / Rapinoe
Referee: Kulcsár (Hungary)