Women’s World Cup: 5 best moments from the semifinals

Jackie Groenen scores the winner in extra time

The Netherlands and Sweden traded big chances throughout the first 90 minutes, fighting off fatigue and putting everything on the line for an opportunity to face the United States in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final. In the first half, Sweden seemed to have the advantage, but, once again, the Netherlands bounced back in the second half to leave everything totally up in the air heading into the extra 30 minutes.

This was a game for the goalkeepers. Sweden’s Hedvig Lindahl continued her impressive tournament by making some jaw-dropping saves, and the Oranje’s veteran goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal was just as excellent.

It would take something special to beat either keeper, but Dutch midfielder Jackie Groenen was more than ready to supply the wondergoal that would leave Lindahl with no chance.

In the 99th minute of extra time, Groenen made a genius run into space, took the flick-on into her stride, and smashed home a worldie into the far corner. Groenen’s goal would have been a Goal of the Tournament contender in any minute of a match, but the greatness of this goal was only increased by its importance as the eventual extra time winner.

Groenen’s goal was the result of textbook off-the-ball play by a midfielder and finishing technique from outside the box. The Netherlands have several players capable of finding the back of the net with style, and the United States will have to watch out for the likes of Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens, Shanice van de Sanden, Danielle van de Donk, and Groenen in the finals.

Alyssa Naeher’s massive penalty save

The final moment on this list may have been the most special. Throughout the tournament, analysts openly wondered if United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher would be the weak link on a stacked team, and she was constantly compared to predecessor Hope Solo, who is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the national team’s history.

Naeher had to hold off stiff competition from players like Adrianna Franch and Aubrey Bledsoe in order to start for the United States, and the decision to start Naeher over Franch was controversial. However, Naeher’s had a solid tournament overall, and her inspiring performance against England only solidified her standing as the U.S.’s No. 1 keeper.

In the 84th minute, Naeher made the save of her life and one of the biggest plays of the entire tournament. Defending a 2-1 lead with everything they had, the United States came up against a dangerous situation when England were, rightfully, awarded a penalty after VAR review. Captain Steph Houghton, who has come up big so often in this tournament, stepped up to take it.

And Naeher stopped the shot to preserve the United States lead, preventing a possible upset against a fiery England team.

That penalty save has made Naeher a hero and will forever go down in the history of United States football, but it wasn’t even the most remarkable save she made in the game.

In the first half, Naeher denied Keira Walsh, who is now generating interest from Lyon, of a wonder goal from outside the box. It was a venomous strike with plenty of movement off the star midfielder’s boot, but Naeher was more than game to wisely track the shot’s movement and come up with an athletic save. Though the penalty stop was more clutch, this save was equally important and arguably more difficult.

Naeher has inspired confidence with her solid work in goal, as her big moments have more than outweighed her minor mistake against Spain in the Round of 16. She has rarely put a wrong foot forward and was perhaps the United States most important player in the semifinals. Heading into a huge final against Miedema and the Netherlands vaunted attack, Naeher will be tasked with coming up big again, and the United States fan base should have absolute faith in her ability now.