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Women's World Cup: Alex Morgan downs valiant England as Lionesses fall short of final berth
England were cruelly knocked out of the World Cup as they fell to a tight 2-1 defeat to USA in Lyon.
Christen Press headed the three-time World Cup winners in front before Ellen White struck in her clinical fashion in a frenetic start to the semi-final tie.
But Alex Morgan’s winning header ended a fine run by the Lionesses - who were denied an equaliser by the tightest of margins.
Steph Houghton stepped up to take a late penalty but failed to convert, before Millie Bright’s sending off, as England were left ruing their missed opportunity at a World Cup final.
READ MORE: Neville - England 'touched the hearts of the nation' in World Cup defeat to USA
Megan Repinoe’s absence from the starting eleven may have boosted England’s hopes, but it was the reigning world champions who started in rampant form.
Rose Lavelle cut inside from the right flank and fired an effort on goal which Carly Telford did well to parry, before Morgan was almost picked out with a free-kick moments later.
But almost inevitably it was the Americans who took the early lead - the sixth time this tournament they’ve bagged inside the opening 15 minutes.
Press, who lost marker Lucy Bronze, planted a header beyond the outstretched hands of Telford to send fans of Jill Ellis’ team into raptures.
The goal rewarded an opening period of domination and England were fearing the worst when Lavelle drove an effort just over the bar on 16 minutes.
But barely three minutes later, seemingly from nowhere, Phil Neville’s resilient Lionesses were level.
Beth Mead’s tantalising cross was deftly flicked by White off the far post and into the net, to earn her sixth goal of the tournament.
That strike seemingly unsettled Ellis’s team, although Lavelle again had England worried when she slammed a first-time half-volley at goal, only for Telford to deny her.
England then had their moment. Bronze’s determination saw her endeavour on a gritty run but team-mate Mead slipped at the vital moment as she received the ball.
Defender Becky Sauerbrunn nearly slashed into her own net as England started to believe, but the wind in their sails was taken away by the sucker-punch of a Morgan goal.
The prolific American star lost Demi Stokes to emphatically head Lindsey Horan’s inswinging cross into the net.
Alyssa Naeher had to be at her best, though, to keep out Keira Walsh’s 20-yard swerving effort as England sought a response before the break.
But it was just after the break when England nearly levelled, Chelsea’s Bright won a far post header before White nearly connected with an over-head kick from close range.
Telford, filling in for the injured Karen Bardsley, then made an error on the hour mark which proved almost fatal for Neville’s men; the goalkeeper’s under-hit pass was intercepted by Morgan, who bent her effort over.
White thought she had levelled for England when her strike mid-way through the half was clinically dispatched following a fine flicked around the corner, only to be found fractionally offside by the video assistant referee.
England were granted their lifeline 12 minutes from times when White was clipped by Sauerbrunn when poised to score - although the resulting VAR decision took five minutes to arrive.
Captain Houghton - returning from injury - showed courage in stepping up to take the spot-kick, but her resulting effort was kept out by Naeher.
Things went from bad to worse for England when Bright slid in with a high tackle on Morgan and subsequently received her second yellow card - and marching orders.
It realistically ended the Lionesses’ chances of bagging a late lifeline, as the defeat condemned England to a third-place playoff against either Netherlands or Sweden in Nice on Saturday.
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