Stars and Stripes extend WWC unbeaten run to 14 matches
WATCH: Highlights and post-match press conference
15:21 24/06
USA made to sweat against resilient Spain
The holders are moving on to the next round to face hosts France in what is already a highly-anticipated match, but they had to work for today's victory against a determined Spain side. Megan Rapinoe converted an early penalty after Tobin Heath was brought down in the area; every USA goal at France 2019 has come before the 12th minute. La Rojabecame the first side to score against the USA in this World Cup; Hermoso's goal was the first the Stars & Stripes conceded at the Women's World Cup in 317 minutes. Rapinoe became the second player in tournament history to score two penalties in one game after she put another past Panos in the second half, following a foul on Rose Lavelle. The win brings USA's unbeaten run in the Women's World Cup to 14 matches, which is one shy of Germany's record from 2003-2011.Next up:
France v USA, quarter-finals, Parc des Princes, Paris on 28 June at 21:00 local time
15:13 24/06
Ellis on facing hosts France in the next round
“I get more excited for big games, and that’s why you do this (coaching in professional sports). It’s going to be an amazing game. It’ll probably be crazy and intense, and as it should be. What a showcase piece. We’ve both got good players, good teams, a good set-up, so let’ go for it.”
15:08 24/06
Ellis on their first goal conceded at France 2019
“That’s a tough moment and I credit both her (Alyssa Naeher) and Becky (Sauerbrunn) and the whole team. Those moments can absolutely destroy a team, but the team parked it and moved on and that’s what they have to do in those moments. I felt we were going to win the game with our ball movement and possession. Their heads were up in the locker room and they were ready to move on.”
"That’s one moment in a 97-minute game. She (Naeher) was brave in a lot of moments today. She’s had a lot of games under her belt. It’s part of the game. You want to be clean and sharp and error-free, but it’s not about dwelling in that moment and you need to look at all the positives. You have to be an optimist. They (the players) are going out there and giving it their all and their best. Alyssa was solid. One mental thing and she’s moved on.”
15:05 24/06
Jill Ellis, USA head coach
USA head coach Jill Ellis explained her rationale in starting Sam Mewis instead of Lindsey Horan today: “We went with Sam. We have depth. When I look at this as a coach, I look at 14 or 15 starters. It was just a decision on what we needed for this particular match. Lindsey is very much a starter on this team. We have multiple options in that regard.”
14:53 24/06
Rapinoe's initial thoughts on France quarter-final
"We need to stay very organised. The French team’s really good on the ball. They have a ton of attacking talent. Offensively we need to get after them. We can’t sit back and let them play. Our press can hurt them and we need to bring the game to them.”
14:43 24/06
Erin Fish
Megan Rapinoe received her Visa Player of the Match trophy from her former team-mate, good friend and USA's all-time leading goalscorer, Abby Wambach.
14:37 24/06
Elisa Revuelta
Fair play above all! Lucia Garcia and Ali Krieger exchanged shirts after the match, as well as Silvia Meseguer and Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe and Marta Corredera.
14:32 24/06
Jorge Vilda, Spain head coach
“I really feel that we all should be proud of what we did. I am very proud indeed. In terms of competitiveness, we gave the best team in the world a run for their money. It was a great effort on part of all the players. We’re going to grow from this defeat, and I’m really sure all the players on the team have ensured their future.”
14:27 24/06
"Paris, here we come!"
USA celebrated their narrow victory in the Round of 16 in Reims with their family and friends. Next stop? Paris.
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14:14 24/06
Megan Rapinoe, Player of the Match
Player of the Match Megan Rapinoe spoke with Fox Sports on the pitch after the final whistle: "That’s World Cup-level grit right there. You can’t replicate it. You can’t teach it. We told each other during the game we needed to go up a level. They (the matches) only get harder and more intense from here. Everybody’s playing for their lives."
14:06 24/06
Erin Fish
USA squeak through that one unscathed, but not without a battle from Spain. The fast and physical play has been the toughest test the team has seen so far and it made for a number of bumps and bruises. The two goals scored by USA were both penalties convered by Megan Rapinoe. It's on to the quarter-finals, where they will face hosts France in what will be a highly-anticipated match throughout world football.
14:04 24/06
Elisa Revuelta
Spain are out of the competition, but against the USA they proved, even more than against Germany, that they are ready to compete against the best teams in the world. They knew they needed almost a perfect match to have a chance and they nearly did just that. They matched the physical strength of the USA and were aggressive when attacking and when defending. They improved their accuracy in front of goal. They stuck together and managed to make the reigning champions' lives complicated. The USA only scored from the penalty spot and Spain never gave up. They pushed for an equaliser all the way until the final whistle. They made history in their second Women's World Cup, and after what they showed today, there's no doubt that the best is still to come, and that will be sooner rather than later.
14:00 24/06
Player of the Match
14:00 24/06
Spain
Statistics
USA 
46%
54%
| Attempts | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Attempts | 12 |
| 1 | On-Target | 3 |
| 2 | Off-Target | 8 |
| 2 | Blocked | 1 |
| Disciplinary | ||
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Fouls Committed | 5 |
| 1 | Yellow cards | 1 |
| 0 | Second Yellow Card leading to Red Card | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Attacking | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Corners | 3 |
| 2 | Offsides | 2 |
| 7 | Free kicks | 19 |
| 1 | Saves | 0 |
The referee brings the second period to an end.
90'+7' 24 Jun 2019
Christen PRESS (in) comes off the bench to replace Megan RAPINOE (out) (USA)
89' 24 Jun 2019
Lindsey HORAN (in) comes off the bench to replace Rose LAVELLE (out) (USA)
13:45 24/06
Elisa Revuelta
And there's one more offensive change! Torrecilla, a defensive midfielder, is out and Mariona Caldentey, a forward, comes in. The message is clear: Spain will fight until the end.
85' 24 Jun 2019
Carli LLOYD (in) comes off the bench to replace Alex MORGAN (out) (USA)
Irene PAREDES (Spain) is booked by the referee.
13:42 24/06
Erin Fish
Tonight's attendance for this enthralling match: 19,663.
83' 24 Jun 2019
Mariona CALDENTEY (in) comes off the bench to replace Virginia TORRECILLA (out) (Spain)
13:40 24/06
Elisa Revuelta
Spain is running out of time to find an equaliser, but Vilda isn't giving up. Andrea Falcon, a quick winger, replaces Alexia Putellas. It's now or never!
13:39 24/06
Rapinoe's penalty brace
Rapinoe is the second player in Women's World Cup history to score two penalties in one match. The first? Jennifer Hermoso of Spain against South Africa earlier in the tournament.
78' 24 Jun 2019
Andrea FALCON (in) comes off the bench to replace Alexia PUTELLAS (out) (Spain)
75' 24 Jun 2019
Megan RAPINOE (USA) successfully converts the penalty!
Rapinoe puts in her second penalty of the afternoon and restores USA's lead. This time, Panos guessed the direction of the shot correctly, but was unable to make the save.
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