By Matt Weitz
ATLANTA – In the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final, the United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0.  The first half was scoreless, as the Dutch goalkeeper, Sari Van Veennendaal, made save after save to keep the U.S. out of the goal.

The second half was the difference-maker.  Early in the second half, Alex Morgan was tackled in the penalty box, but initially no call was made.  The referee then decided to use VAR and ruled that the U.S. would have a penalty kick.  Megan Rapinoe made the penalty kick, putting the U.S. up 1-0.  Shortly after, Rose Lavelle scored a second goal putting the U.S. up 2-0.

The U.S. then simply kept the Netherlands from scoring for the remainder of the game.  As the final whistle blew, the team stormed onto the field.  Teammates Rapinoe and Morgan shared the Golden Boot for the tournament.  The Golden Boot is awarded to the player with the most individual goals.  Rapinoe and Morgan both had six goals in this Women’s World Cup.

This is the United States’ fourth Women’s World Cup, more than any other country.  Germany is the next closest with two Women’s World Cups.  This is also the first time the U.S. has won back-to-back titles, following their third in 2015.  Next year, the U.S. will try and achieve another first, winning Olympic gold the year after a World Cup title.  They have won four Olympic gold medals, each following a year in which they failed to win the Women’s World Cup.  With powerhouses France and Germany already doomed to miss the Olympics in Women’s Soccer, the U.S. will have a better chance to win an Olympic gold than ever before.