Reims (AFP)

US captain Megan Rapinoe scored twice on Monday against Spain (2-1) to send the United States to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup football, where the defending champion will challenge France, the country host.

The offensive midfielder first opened the scoring on the penalty spot at the very beginning of the match (7th), before reoffending at the end of the match, still on the penalty spot, to free American women heckled by brave Spanish women (75th).

The Seattle player, who honored her 156th selection, scored her 46th and 47th goals with Team USA.

Megan Rapinoe, who will celebrate her 34th birthday next week, has once again proved its importance for the American team, which for the first time of the Mondial-2019 was not sovereign, a few days of the long-awaited duel against the Blue, Friday night at the Parc des Princes.

The captain, at the origin of the lawsuit of the players against the American Football Federation to obtain the equality of the wages men / women and put an end to the discriminations, had already obtained a small victory a few days ago with the announcement of a mediation agreement between the two parties to avoid a trial.

Relieved of this burden, she delivered her best football on the lawn of the Auguste-Delaune stadium and carried her team on her shoulders, with the other midfielder Rose Lavelle.

Megan Rapinoe has continued to pose problems on the right-wing Spanish side Marta Corredera and has distilled some superb passes, such as this magnificent opening for Tobin Heath in the last minutes (88th).

It could even have scored other goals in the game, like the shot angle angle averted in extremis by the Spanish goalkeeper (13th), a new attempt passed by (35th), or a subtle shot from outside the foot that flirted with the skylight of Spain (79).

- Cold blood -

As usual, the 2012 Olympic champion and 2015 world champion boycotted the national anthem, in support of the movement launched by American football player Colin Kaepernick in 2016 to protest police violence against blacks.

She did not sing or put her hand on the heart, unlike her 22 teammates. But that did not stop her from leaving her team with a bad pace by registering the two penalties obtained by Team USA.

It should not also shoot the second since Alex Morgan, the star scorer of the United States, not at all inspired Monday, had placed the ball before the referee to consult the VAR.

But after several minutes of waiting, it was finally Megan Rapinoe who appeared before Sandra Panos to beat her a second time, with a lot of composure. The Blue are prevented ...

? 2019 AFP