27.06.2015 05:10 h

USA beat China 1-0, meet Germany in semi-finals

A second half goal from Carli Lloyd put the United States into the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup for a seventh straight time with a 1-0 win over China on Friday.

The second-ranked Americans, winners in 1991 and 1999, dominated their 16th-ranked Asian rivals with Lloyd, starting as captain as she marked her 200th cap, nailing the game with a winner after 51 minutes at Ottawa's Lansdowne Stadium.

"I think it was a very good performance tonight," said US coach Jill Ellis, whose side next meet fellow two-time winners Germany in Montreal on Tuesday for a place in the final.

Germany beat France 5-4 on penalties in Montreal after their quarter-final ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.

"As you get into the latter stages of the tournament, certainly it's tactics .. but a big part of it is your mentality, it's your psychology, it's where you are in terms of your attitude," said Ellis.

"Tonight the players have a good feeling leaving the field and that will buoy us heading into the Germany game."

It was the 25th consecutive victory for the United States over China, who they beat on penalties to take the title in 1999. The US also won in 1991.

"We lost the game because of me," said China head coach Hao Wei, who had stuck with largely the same core group of players throughout the tournament.

"It's because of me, because I didn't do well in tactics," he continued.

"I think these girls already did their best I hope in the future they can go further with their unrelenting hard work.

"Our goal was to go to the semi-finals. We didn't fulfil that so it's a pity."

The Stars and Stripes dominated from the outset and had their first chance on goal just minutes into the game.

Amy Rodriguez sprinted through the Chinese defence and onto goal, only to send the ball wide.

Alex Morgan had a shot straight at Wang Fei in the Chinese goal midway through the first half with Tobin Heath then crossing for Kelly O'Hara only for her diving header to go wide.

But back after the break Lloyd was not to be denied with a powerful header off a Julie Johnston cross.

Ali Krieger threatened a second but hit the crossbar but the two-time winners were unable to add to their tally.

Goalie Hope Solo earned another milestone mark as the US earned their longest clean sheat in the World Cup going 423 minutes without conceding a goal.

The win was the 134th of Solo's career, which moved her past Brianna Scurry and into first place on the USA's all-time list.

"I know she set one (record) yesterday what's today's?" said Ellis when asked about Hope's record.

"Wins? Yeah we celebrated yesterday for that. It's great, I've said this before, she's the best goalkeeper in the world. She's done a fantastic job with this team.

"She's highly talented, highly motivated and has earned those games because on the field she's tremendous."

This will be the fourth time the Americans meet Germany in the World Cup with each of the three previous times the winner has gone on to win the tournament.

Champions Japan play 10th-ranked Australia in their quarter-final in Edmonton on Saturday, the same day that England tackle hosts Canada in Vancouver.