They needed a win in the final match of the competition in order to win the cup, and got it thanks to the relentless aggression of Rapinoe, who blasted a right-footed shot in the 58th minute that deflected off an English defender and then the goalkeeper for the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
England goalie Karen Bardsley bent to collect Rapinoe’s deflected shot, but defender Millie Bright touched it with her foot, banking the ball off Bardsley and into the net for Bright’s second own goal of the tournament.
With the victory, Team USA regained the SheBelieves Cup title.
England had defeated France and tied with Germany, but England’s 4-1 victory over the French gave the Lionesses the edge in goal differential, so a win or a tie would give England the cup.
It was an emotional night in Orlando for other reasons, as Team USA hosted the family, high school team and club team of Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the victims of the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14.
