US Wins World Cup In 2-0 Victory Over Netherlands

The New York Times reports:



The United States was denied for a half. But in the end, there was no stopping the Americans. The United States women’s soccer team claimed its fourth straight Women’s World Cup title on Sunday, beating a valiant Netherlands team. 2-0, in Lyon, France, to repeat as world champions.

Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle scored second-half goals for the United States, who needed more than an hour to solve a tenacious defensive effort by the Netherlands. Rapinoe broke the dam with a penalty kick in the 61st minute, and Lavelle sealed the victory with a driving run up the center in the 69th.

It was the second straight World Cup title for a dozen of the American players, who claimed their first in Canada four years ago. It also cemented their status as the gold standard in women’s soccer, even as Europe — led by teams like the Netherlands — mounts a sustained assault on their crown.