U.S. women gain World Cup final

MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany -- Abby Wambach sure knows how to deliver. A goal, a promise and soon, she hopes, a World Cup title.

The U.S. women had fans on edge once again until Wambach broke a tense tie with her header off a corner kick in the 79th minute Wednesday. Alex Morgan scored three minutes later to seal a 3-1 semifinal victory over France.

Next up, a trip to the World Cup final Sunday in Frankfurt that will be the first for Americans since 1999, when they last won it all. They'll play Japan, which upset Sweden 3-1.

"We've achieved part of our goal. We're in the final," Wambach said. "We want to complete it. We want to be world champs."

So do their fans, new and old.

When the final whistle blew, Hollywood celebrities, pro athletes and ordinary folks who didn't know a free kick from a corner kick just a few days ago flooded Twitter with congratulations. "My heroes.

Wambach. Boxx. Rapinoe. Solo. That TEAM! Our team!" actor Tom Hanks tweeted. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers said, "Awesome job US Women, finish it off Sunday now."

Wambach and company were glad to share the moment. "These wins, we can't do it alone. We know a whole nation is cheering us on," Wambach said. "We believe in ourselves and we're in the final. I couldn't be happier."

France was the surprise of the tournament, making the semifinals with a creativity and flair. For much of the game, the U.S. couldn't contain Les Bleues.

"We didn't play well today," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "However, we find a way to win and that's a credit to the players' hearts."

With the U.S. struggling to create opportunities in the middle, Sundhage replaced Carli Lloyd with sparkplug Megan Rapinoe early in the second half, moved Lauren Cheney inside and pulled Wambach back to the midfield.

The difference was noticeable immediately. The Americans were able to push forward and began threatening French goalkeeper Berangere Sapowicz. Finally, in the 79th, the Americans won a corner kick.

"I told [Cheney] at halftime, 'Put the ball to the back post, and we're going to get a goal,' Wambach said.

Cheney delivered the ball perfectly to the far post and, just as Wambach had predicted, she soared over the scrum and pushed the ball past Sapowicz.

"I knew Abby was going to beat her," Cheney said, referring to the French defender.

Asked how, Cheney said, "Because she's Abby Wambach." It was her third goal of the tournament and 12th of her career, tying fellow American Michelle Akers for third on the all-time World Cup scoring list. Wambach scored the tying goal late in overtime against Brazil in the quarterfinal.

Morgan then put the game out of reach, outracing four defenders into the box from the left side then chipping the ball over Sapowicz.

The U.S. was staked to an early lead by Cheney's goal in the ninth minute. But in the 55th, France equalized when Bompastor floated in a cross from about 30 yards and with the dangerous Gaetane Thiney right in front of her, U.S. goaltender Hope Solo, who played another strong game, had little opportunity to move. The ball flew right past her.

France dominated, finishing with a whopping 25-11 advantage in shots. Solo had to make a tip save on Thiney's shot in the 30th and Bompastor rattled the crossbar two minutes later.