Naeher stars as USA Dare to Shine the brightest

A 30th birthday to remember for Alex Morgan as USA reach Final
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher steals the headlines with crucial penalty save
Christen Press makes immediate impact in place of superstar Megan Rapinoe

By Erin Fish with USA

A match-winning goal, a trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Final and a piece of birthday cake delivered by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. It was quite a 30th birthday for Alex Morgan.

USA captain Morgan scored what proved to be the winner in an epic 2-1 victory over England leaving the forward set to play in her third consecutive World Cup Final. As if that wasn’t enough, Morgan had happy birthday sung to her by the USA fans as well as the entire squad, and she also won the Visa Player of the Match.

But Morgan felt she wasn’t the one who truly deserved it, despite her key contribution.

“Alyssa Naeher, she should be the player of the match today,” Morgan said. “She saved our butts today.”

Naeher, who faced some criticism after the match against Spain, made multiple saves for USA in the past two matches, having barely been called into action during the group stage.

But her most crucial save of the tournament so far came when a VAR decision resulted in a penalty awarded against defender Becky Sauerbrunn. Steph Houghton took the spot-kick seeking to draw England level and force extra time, only for Naeher to make the block and become the first USA goalkeeper to save a penalty during a Women’s World Cup match.

The USA players form a team huddle

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: The USA players form a team huddle after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Referee Edina Alves Batista shows Millie Bright of England a red card

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Referee Edina Alves Batista shows Millie Bright of England a red card during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Alyssa Naeher of the USA saves a penalty from Steph Houghton of England

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Alyssa Naeher of the USA saves a penalty from Steph Houghton of England during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Ellen White of England celebrates after a penalty is awarded

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Ellen White of England celebrates after a penalty is awarded during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Ellen White of England scores a goal however it is disallowed following a VAR review

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Ellen White of England scores a goal however it is disallowed following a VAR review during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Philip Neville, Head Coach of England reacts

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Philip Neville, Head Coach of England reacts during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Rose Lavelle of the USA runs with the ball

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Rose Lavelle of the USA runs with the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
General view inside the stadium

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: General view inside the stadium at half time of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Ellen White of England celebrates after scoring

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Ellen White of England celebrates after scoring her team’s first goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Ellen White of England scores her team’s first goal

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Ellen White of England scores her team’s first goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Alex Morgan of the USA celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Alex Morgan of the USA celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Alex Morgan of the USA scores her team’s second goal

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Alex Morgan of the USA scores her team’s second goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Christen Press of the USA celebrates with teammate Lindsey Horan after scoring

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Christen Press of the USA celebrates with teammate Lindsey Horan after scoring her team’s first goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Christen Press of the USA scores her team’s first goal past Carly Telford of England

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Christen Press of the USA scores her team’s first goal past Carly Telford of England during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
General view inside the stadium

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: General view inside the stadium prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Caparros – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
General view inside the dressing room of England

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: General view inside the dressing room prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
A pennant is seen hanging next to the shirt of Steph Houghton of England in the dressing room

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: A pennant is seen hanging next to the shirt of Steph Houghton of England in the dressing room prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
The shirt of Megan Rapinoe of the USA is seen hanging in the dressing room

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: The shirt of Megan Rapinoe of the USA is seen hanging in the dressing room prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Catherine Ivill – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

© Getty Images
USA fans show their support

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: USA fans show their support prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

© Getty Images
Fans of USA enjoy the pre match atmosphere

02 Jul 2019

LYON, FRANCE – JULY 02: Fans of USA enjoy the pre match atmosphere prior to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Semi Final match between England and USA at Stade de Lyon on July 02, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

© Getty Images

And while the theme of the tournament is ‘Dare to Shine’, Jill Ellis has decreed a new mantra, telling her players to “Dare to shine the brightest”.

“I said to her after the game tonight that she shined tonight, she was the brightest,” Ellis said. “I give her full credit. She’s a tremendous person. She’s making her own mark and creating her own legacy, and that’s fantastic.”

Naeher, however, was far from the only USA player to shine in the hard-fought victory. With star player Megan Rapinoe out with a hamstring injury, Christen Press stepped up as a starter and didn’t miss a beat.

In every match so far at France 2019, USA has scored within the first 12 minutes. Press became the latest contributor by netting in the 10th minute to give the Stars and Stripes an important early lead.

Ellis always likes to say she doesn’t think of this team as having a starting XI, but as having 14 or 15 players that could start and that depth showed in Lyon when it was most needed.

Dare to shine the brightest indeed.