USA won a record-extending fourth Women’s World Cup crown as a Megan Rapinoe penalty and Rose Lavelle’s smart finish secured a hard-fought triumph over the Netherlands on Sunday.
After a goalless first half, the United States piled the pressure on in the second period and were awarded a spot-kick via VAR after Alex Morgan was fouled in the box.
Rapinoe, who missed out on the semi-final victory over England, duly stepped up and fired home beyond Dutch stopper Sari van Veenendaal, who was in inspired form in this final, to open the scoring.
And Van Veenendaal was beaten for a second time when Lavelle carried the ball forward and then fired home a long-range stunner that doubled the USA’s lead to give them some breathing space.
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They duly held on, even missing several golden opportunities to find a third goal, to add to their 1991, 1999 and 2015 World Cup titles in comfortable fashion.
Having scored by the 12th minute of every match of their campaign prior to the final, the US were unable to keep the record up in the early stages, with Tobin Heath’s free-kick into the box being headed clear just before that point passed.
Holland goalkeeper Van Veenendaal subsequently claimed a Lavelle cross, and counterpart Alyssa Naeher did well to get there first when Vivianne Miedema tried to play in Lineth Beerensteyn with a through-ball.
Van Veenedaal then made a smart stop in the 27th minute as she pushed away a volley from Julie Ertz.
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There were further heroics from Van Veenendaal towards the end of the first half as she produced three excellent stops in quick succession.
First she kept out a Mewis header, then she diverted an Alex Morgan effort against the post with her foot.
And moments later she denied Morgan again, diving to turn her strike behind, before the teams went in at the break with the score still goalless.
The US eventually took the lead in the 62nd minute through a Rapinoe penalty awarded via VAR.
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Stefanie Van Der Gragt made a high-footed challenge on Morgan, who went down in the box, and having initially awarded a corner, referee Stephanie Frappart then watched back footage pitchside before pointing to the spot.
Rapinoe subsequently produced a composed finish from 12 yards to take her goal tally for the tournament to six, moving her level at the top of the scoring charts with Morgan and England’s Ellen White.
Seven minutes later the advantage was doubled as Lavelle burst forward and fired past Van Veenendaal.
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The US looked set to score again shortly after as Rapinoe fed Heath, but she took too long before shooting and Van Veenendaal got the ball.
With time running out, Holland pushed forward to try and get a foothold back into the final and Lineth Beerensteyn tried her luck from outside the box, but it was a comfortable save for Naeher.
Naeher would have been a little more concerned about Sherida Spitse’s 25-yard free-kick with 10 minutes to go, but the well-struck effort curled just wide.
