LYON, Francia — Megan Rapinoe, que no se esperaba que empezara la final de la Copa Mundial Femenina del domingo debido a un problema de tendones, terminó ganando en su lugar, lanzando tranquilamente un penal en el minuto 61 para iniciar a Estados Unidos en su camino hacia una victoria por 2-0 sobre un equipo obstinado de Holanda ante un público agotado en el Stade de Lyon.
Con esta victoria, Estados Unidos se convierte en el segundo equipo en ganar la Copa Mundial Femenina consecutiva y en el primer país en ganar el título cuatro veces.
Rapinoe ha sido el corazón y el alma de dos de esos equipos campeones, al tiempo que ha esquivado a los críticos en casa -incluido el presidente Trump- que se han mostrado en desacuerdo con ella en ciertas posturas públicas.
Rapinoe, una de las siete jugadoras de la lista de Estados Unidos que se han preparado para las tres últimas finales de la Copa Mundial Femenina, que cumplió 34 años el viernes, llevó a las estadounidenses a este campeonato, anotando cinco de los ocho goles del equipo en las rondas eliminatorias y terminando el torneo con seis, lo que le dio una parte de la ventaja goleadora. Ganó el Balón de Oro como MVP de la Copa del Mundo y también la Bota de Oro como máxima anotadora del torneo.
El penal se produjo después de que la defensora holandesa Stefanie van der Gragt golpeara a Alex Morgan con su pierna derecha en el área de 18 yardas, mientras los dos luchaban por un centro. Van der Gragt no tocó el balón, golpeando el hombro derecho de Morgan, que cayó. Después de consultar una reseña en video, la árbitro francesa Stephanie Frappart regresó al terreno de juego y apuntó al punto de mira, concediendo a Estados Unidos un tiro penal.
Rapinoe, la mejor anotadora de las estadounidenses, no tuvo problemas para convertirlo.
Y luego, con la presión holandesa por el empate, Rose Lavelle, una de las 11 debutantes en la Copa Mundial en la lista de Estados Unidos, duplicó la ventaja en el minuto 69. El gol fue el tercero de Lavelle en el torneo.
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United States’ team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (Claude Paris/AP)
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The US team celebrates winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (Francois Mori/AP)
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Netherlands’ players react after losing the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (Claude Paris/AP)
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United States players gather after winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (Claude Paris/AP)
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United States’ Megan Rapinoe scores her side’s opening goal from a penalty shot during the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/David Vincent) (David Vincent/AP)
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United States’ team celebrates with the trophy after winning the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) (Claude Paris/AP)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates with the Golden Ball award and teammate Rose Lavelle celebrates with the Bronze Ball award following the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Rose Lavelle of the USA scores her team’s second goal during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Julie Ertz of the USA celebrates with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy following her team’s victory in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates following the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Players of the USA celebrate with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy following victory in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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The dutch team stands together after losing the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) (Francois Mori/AP)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Shanice Van De Sanden, Stefanie Van der Gragt and Danielle Van De Donk of the Netherlands look dejected following defeat in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Rose Lavelle of the USA celebrates after scoring her team’s second goal as Desiree van Lunteren of Netherlands looks on during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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Netherlands’ Jill Roord reacts in dejection at the end of the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. US won 2:0. (AP Photo/David Vincent) (David Vincent/AP)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates with the Golden Ball award following the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Alex Morgan of the USA kisses the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy following her team’s victory in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA lifts the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy following her team’s victory in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Elsa/Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT - USA’s players including forward Megan Rapinoe (C) celebrate with the trophy after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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TOPSHOT - USA’s players celebrate with the trophy after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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United States’ midfielder Julie Ertz poses after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron look at the trophy after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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USA’s players including forward Megan Rapinoe (C) celebrate with the trophy after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino and French President Emmanuel Macron present United States’ forward Megan Rapinoe with the Golden Boot after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
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Netherlands players react after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
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USA players celebrate after the final whistle during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. or MoD ** (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
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Players react after the final whistle during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Fans react after the final whistle as they watch the France 2019 Women’s World Cup final football match between USA and the Netherlands, in Washington, DC, on July 7, 2019. (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP/Getty Images)
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United States’ forward Alex Morgan shoots during the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
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LYON, FRANCE - JULY 07: Megan Rapinoe of the USA celebrates with teammate Alex Morgan after winning the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Final match between The United States of America and The Netherlands at Stade de Lyon on July 07, 2019 in Lyon, France. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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United States’ forward Megan Rapinoe poses after the France 2019 Womens World Cup football final match between USA and the Netherlands, on July 7, 2019, at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
El resultado final habría sido mucho peor sin un partido fantástico de Sari van Veenendaal, la guardameta y capitana de Holanda, que frustró repetidamente a las estadounidenses con sus acrobáticas atajadas.
Estados Unidos nunca se quedó atrás en el torneo y el gol de Lavelle les dio 26 en Francia, batiendo el récord de una sola Copa Mundial Femenina. La victoria también amplió la racha de imbatibilidad de la selección estadounidense a 17 partidos en la Copa del Mundo desde 2011. Los últimos 12 fueron victorias.
Para las holandesas, las actuales campeonas de Europa, el puesto en la final se produjo en la segunda edición de la Copa Mundial Femenina del país. Y se las arreglaron bien, perdiendo solo ante Estados Unidos.
