Le Havre, France: A stunning strike by Lucy Bronze helped England to a 3-0 quarter-final win over Norway in Le Havre on Thursday as Phil Neville’s team eased into the last four of the women’s World Cup.

David Beckham, a former colleague of Neville’s for Manchester United and England, was among the crowd of more than 21,000 at the Stade Oceane to see midfield stalwart Jill Scott open the scoring inside three minutes, becoming just the second English player to score at three separate women’s World Cups.

Ellen White then grabbed her fifth goal of the tournament five minutes prior to half-time and Bronze made sure of the victory with a rising shot high into the net as the hour mark approached.

England were so comfortable towards the end that they could even afford to squander a penalty, with Nikita Parris having her late spot-kick saved.

There were striking similarities between Bronze’s effort here and her goal that gave England a 2-1 win over the same opponents a round earlier at the 2015 World Cup in Canada.

The Lionesses went out of that tournament in the semi-finals and also fell in the last four at Euro 2017. Now they will hope to go a step further, although a daunting challenge awaits against hosts France or holders the United States in Lyon next Tuesday.

Norway had declared ambitions of leaving France with a medal to show for their efforts, but after ousting Australia on penalties in the last round, this was a step too far for them.

It is impossible not to wonder how different things might have been in this game had the class of Ada Hegerberg been available to Martin Sjogren’s team.

They could not recover after falling behind to Scott’s early goal, with Bronze charging forward down the right and cutting the ball back from the byline for the Manchester City midfielder to side-foot in off the far post after White had miskicked.

It was a landmark goal for Scott, who first found the net for her country against Argentina at the 2007 World Cup.

England looked like scoring every time they came forward in the first half, with White hitting the post and Parris having a header saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth before the second goal came on 40 minutes.

Yet again the left side of the Norwegian defence was badly exposed as Parris teed up White to convert from inside the six-yard box and join Australia’s Sam Kerr and Alex Morgan of the USA at the top of the World Cup scorers’ chart.

Any hopes Norway had of a second-half comeback were doused in the 57th minute when Bronze was fouled by Ingrid Syrstad Engen on another charge forward from right-back.

Norway had chances to grab a consolation but England stood firm to secure a fourth straight clean sheet, although they missed the chance to score a fourth goal from the spot with seven minutes left.

Captain Steph Houghton was shoved over in the box by Chelsea’s Maria Thorisdottir, but Parris - who had a penalty saved in the group-stage win over Argentina on the same ground - saw her kick from 12 yards kept out by Hjelmseth diving high to her right. </s> England sent out a warning to their rivals as they stormed into the women's World Cup semi-finals with an impressive 3-0 victory against Norway.

England sent out a warning to their rivals as they stormed into the women's World Cup semi-finals with an impressive 3-0 victory against Norway.

Ellen White scored her fifth goal of the tournament in between Jill Scott's opener and a Lucy Bronze screamer from the edge of the area as Phil Neville's side set up a mouthwatering clash with either holders the United States or hosts France.

England were devastating on their right flank with Bronze and Nikita Parris, who missed a late penalty, tormenting their opponents throughout as Norway suffered physically.

England got away with some sloppiness in defence but the Lionesses will hope to improve on their third place from 2015.

They took the lead after only three minutes when Bronze burst down the right flank and cut in from the byline. White swung and missed but Scott slotted the ball home off the post for the fastest goal of the tournament so far.

England dominated possession and Parris fired over the crossbar before White came closer when she rattled the upright after a quick throw-in.

For all their superiority and Norway's lack of inspiration, the Lionesses were still vulnerable to a comeback.

However, doubled the tally five minutes before the break, White tapping in from Parris's cross from inside the area.

Parris's pace was too much too handle for Norway, but England put themselves in a dangerous situation when goalkeeper Karen Bardsley's poor first touch trying to control a back pass almost saw her dispossessed in front of goal.

But the contest was all but over in the 57th minute when the unmarked Bronze unleashed a rising shot that flew into the roof of the net from Beth Mead's free kick.

Houghton made sure there was no late setback for England by clearing Lisa-Marie Utland's shot off the goal-line as Norway finally hit their stride.

Parris saw her penalty saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth seven minutes from time - the first player to miss two penalties at the same women's World Cup having failed against Argentina in the group stage - but England had wrapped up the win by then. </s> England beat Norway 3-0 on Thursday to book their place in the semi-finals of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Midfielder Jill Scott got Phil Neville's side off to the perfect start by side-footing the Lionesses in front from Lucy Bronze's cut-back inside three minutes.

England doubled their lead five minutes before half-time. Again the danger came down the right flank, with Nikita Parris setting up Ellen White to sweep home from close range.

The Lionesses wrapped up a comfortable win with their third goal just before the hour mark. Beth Mead cut a free-kick back to Bronze, who fired a powerful shot past goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth.

England made just one change to their team, with Demi Stokes coming in for Alex Greenwood, while Norway stuck with the same starting XI that beat Australia in the last 16:

The Lionesses took the lead in the opening minutes after Bronze raced past Ingrid Engen down the right flank and cut the ball back inside the penalty area. White swung at the ball and missed, but it travelled through to Scott, who wrote her name into the history books:

England's best play throughout the half came down their right side, with Bronze and Parris causing Norway all sorts of problems.

Parris fired an effort wide when well placed after 20 minutes and then set up White, who saw her effort smash against the woodwork and fly away to safety (UK only):

The second goal arrived before half-time and again came from good work out wide. Bronze and Parris combined to tee up White, who tucked home from close range:

Norway had a chance to pull one back at the start of the second half due to some poor defending by the Lionesses. However, Steph Houghton was just able to nick the ball off Caroline Graham Hansen when the latter looked certain to score.

England sealed the win just before the hour mark. Mead cut a free-kick back to Bronze just outside the penalty area, and the latter smashed a superb shot into the roof of the net:

The Lionesses became a little sloppy after the third goal and could have conceded. Houghton was forced to clear off her own line, while goalkeeper Karen Bardsley made smart saves from Lisa-Marie Utland and Isabell Herlovsen to preserve her clean sheet.

England wasted a chance to extend their advantage in the final 10 minutes after being awarded a penalty for a push on Houghton. However, Parris saw her spot-kick saved by a diving Hjelmseth.

It was a dominant performance by the Lionesses, who made it five wins from five at the tournament and are now just a game away from a first ever appearance at a World Cup final.

England progress to the semi-finals and will play the winner of Friday's quarter-final clash between hosts France and holders USA. </s> England hammered Norway 3-0 on Thursday evening to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup for a second tournament in a row.

The Lionesses got off to the perfect start when Jill Scott tapped home Lucy Bronze’s cutback inside three minutes after a miss-kick from Ellen White, before a wonderful team move was finished off by White - taking her joint top of the World Cup goalscoring charts - five minutes before half time.

Bronze then put the icing on the victory with a fabulous strike from a well-worked free-kick in the 57th minute, with Nikita Parris even having penalty saved well by Norway keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth after England captain Steph Houghton was pushed in the box late on.

England will now face the winners of the match between France and USA in the last four and will fancy their chances after such an impressive showing in Le Havre.

The tournament’s fastest goal – timed at 126 seconds – put England on course for victory as veteran Scott finished after great work from Bronze to create the opening.

Norway responded well, though, and put England under pressure, but England showed far superior quality in front of goal, with White thundering an effort against the post on the end of a sumptuous pass from Parris.

Lyon forward Parris was again the creator for White, this time the 30-year-old could not miss from six yards, with the goal meaning White is now England’s top goalscorer at Women’s World Cups.

After the break, England continued in the ascendancy, rounding off the win with Bronze’s thunderbolt of a strike from fully 25 yards, after Beth Mead had caught the Norwegians napping, with Parris unable to make the margin of victory more emphatic from 12 yards in the latter stages.

It is coming home, right? England’s triumph in the SheBelieves Cup certainly raised hopes of success in France this summer ahead of the World Cup, but four wins from four prior to their quarter-final clash ensured a nation expected. Now, having put a talented Norway side to the sword in emphatic fashion, World Cup glory is still very much on England fans’ minds. USA and France are still favourites, but England are starting to hit top gear, and with such an array of attacking talent, can anyone stop them?

Lucy Bronze. Houghton was a colossus at the back, but the award goes to the best right-back in this tournament, hands down. Her set-up play for the opener was superb, showing a great burst of pace before laying a perfect pass back for Scott. Bronze remained a threat on the right all match, before getting on the scoresheet herself in spectacular fashion.

3’ - GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!!! England 1-0 Norway. What a start from England as Jill Scott steers home the opener. The fastest goal of the tournament so far gives England the advantage. Superb work from Lucy Bronze to burst to the byline, she pulled it back for White, who miss kicked, but veteran Scott was on hand to steer the ball into the bottom corner.

20’ - CHAAAAAANCE! Scott slides a nice pass into Nikita Parris, who cuts inside, with defenders committing themselves, but the Manchester City forward slices over the top with the goal at her mercy.

29’ - POST! So close to a second for England. The lofted pass to White from Parris is superb, the England striker takes her time and fires a powerful strike for goal, but sees her effort come out off the post.

38’ - SAVE! Lovely move from England. White feeds Kirby, who clips a perfect cross onto the head of Parris, but her downward header is well saved.

40’ - GOOOOOALLLLL!!!! England 2-0 Norway. White is on hand to convert from close range to double England's lead. Lovely swift move from England. Parris is again the danger as she is put clean through, only this time she elects to square for White, who slots home with ease. White now leads the scoring charts in this tournament, and now has more Women's World Cup goals than any other England player.

47’ - CHANCE! Graham Hansen is there, on the end of a knockdown, six yards out, unmarked, looking set to get Norway back into the match, but Houghton recovers brilliantly to make the tackle and save England.

57’ - GOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!! England 3-0 Norway. WHAT. A. GOAL. Bronze thunders into the net to surely put England in the last four. A training ground routine caught Norway out, Mead slotted the ball into the path of Bronze, who unleashed a thunderous strike from fully 25 yards that flew into the net. Game over?

66’ - OFF THE LINE! Awful pass from Bright puts Bardsley in trouble, Utland nips in, leaves Bardsley on the floor, fires for goal, but Houghton is back on the line to clear, heroically.

82’ - PENALTY TO ENGLAND! Houghton is pushed to the floor and the referee points to the spot.

83’ - SAVED! Parris, who missed her last penalty, sees another penalty saved! Good job it matters little!
• Ellen White is the first England player ever to score five goals in a single Women’s World Cup
• White is the second English player to score in four consecutive FIFA World Cup appearances after Gary Lineker between 1986 and 1990 - she is the first English player to do so in a single edition.
• Jill Scott (2007, 2011 and 2019) is only the second ever player to score in three separate Women's World Cup tournaments for the Lionesses, after Fara Williams (2007, 2011 and 2015).
• Lucy Bronze is the first England player to both score and assist a goal in the same Women's World Cup game since Jill Scott against New Zealand in 2011. </s> LE HAVRE, France (AP) — Lucy Bronze helped set up the first two goals before completing England's 3-0 victory over Norway with a powerful shot of her own Thursday night, sending the team into its second straight Women's World Cup semifinal.

After finishing third at the last tournament four years ago, England will now face either France or the United States on Tuesday in its quest for a first women's final.

It is likely to prove far tougher for the world's third-ranked team than dispatching a team still featuring players who aren't professionals.

England took less than three minutes to take the lead, with Bronze muscling her way down the right flank before cutting the ball back. Ellen White missed a shot but Jill Scott was primed to strike in off the post.

White did get her fifth goal of the tournament in the 40th minute. Played in by Bronze, Nikita Parris spotted White racing between the Norway center backs to receive the pass and sweep into the net.

It was a clever routine that led to the third in the 57th minute. With England preparing to take a free kick on the left flank, Norway was expecting it to be swung into the penalty area. But Beth Mead spotted Bronze arriving at the edge of the penalty area unmarked and the right back connected first-time and raised it high into the roof of the net with a fierce shot.

Nodding in approval from the stands was David Beckham, who high-fived Sue Campbell, the head of women's soccer in England.

While Beckham never made it past a quarterfinal as a player for the England men's team, the Lionesses are now in their third successive semifinal after also making the final four at the 2017 European Championship.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> The U.S. Women’s National Team just set the tone for the rest of the tournament after they beat Thailand 13-0 in their first match, breaking the record for the most lopsided victory in the history of the Women’s World Cup.

The U.S. entered the match with a 4-3-3 formation, with Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath (captain) leading the front line.

The USWNT dominated from the opening kickoff in Reims, France, scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes.

Alex Morgan took the spotlight as the opening act when she scored the first goal within 12 minutes, followed by two more from Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan, and the U.S. squad finished the first half with 15 shots and 73 percent possession.

That lead ballooned in the second half when team USA scored four more goals in the span of six minutes, cementing a 7-0 lead, until Alex Morgan scored a hat trick for the eighth goal.

Morgan eventually finished the game with five goals, tying the single-game record set by Michelle Akers in 1991.

Her fifth goal put the Americans in the lead for the all-time records for both goals and margin of victory in a World Cup match, a record previously held by Germany when they beat Argentina 11-0 in 2007.

Here is a look at Team USA’s opening XI and substitutions:

Watch it on FOX

Watch the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup on FOX from June 7 through July 7. </s> The United States Women’s National team has repeated the history by registering a win over the Netherlands by a score of 2-0 in the final scheduled on Sunday and became the world champion. They lift the trophy for the second consecutive time as they have bagged victory in the previous edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the whole tournament, The Women football team of the United States had a lead before the completion of the half time of every match. The team never ended the first half without scoring goals. But in the final game of the tournament, it took Megan Rapinoe an hour to break the scoreless tie for the US women football team on a penalty kick.

United States Women’s football team won the Women’s World Cup for the fourth time. They won the tournament in the year of 1991, 1999, 2015, 2019. Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle scored two goals for the USA.

Megan Rapinoe, who is aged 34 years 2 days became the oldest player to score a goal in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final. Rapinoe has scored six goals in the tournament.

They are the first team to qualify for the final three times consecutively. Jill Ellis, is also the first coach to win the title back-to-back World Cup. American women have proved as a dominant side in Women football after winning back to back the title.

The final match took place at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium with a total attendance of 57,900 fans. </s> REIMS, France — Thailand was never a real threat to the U.S. national team. Even so, the three-time Women's World Cup champions had no desire to go easy on a lesser opponent in their opening game.

"Obviously we have the utmost respect for everyone we play, but it's the World Cup," said captain Megan Rapinoe.

Alex Morgan tied the tournament record with five goals and the United States opened with a historic 13-0 rout of Thailand on Tuesday night. Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle each added a pair of goals for the United States, which broke the record for goals and margin of victory in a World Cup game.

Rapinoe, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also scored. The previous record margin was Germany's 11-0 victory over Argentina in 2007.

Morgan tied Michelle Akers' record for World Cup goals, set in the quarterfinals against Taiwan in 1991. The team's seven different scorers also set a tournament record.

Lloyd, 36, became the oldest American woman to score at a World Cup and joined Germany's Birgit Prinz as the only players to score in five straight World Cup games.

The United States faced criticism over its relentless attack. The Americans led 3-0 at the break and then broke the match open in the second half, with the players celebrating goal after goal.

The Americans meant no disrespect, said Morgan, but they simply wanted to position themselves for a run at a second consecutive title.

"We really just came into the game really wanting to showcase ourselves," Morgan said. "Every goal matters in this tournament and that's what we were working on."

Asked about the lopsided score, U.S. coach Jill Ellis wondered if a 10-0 victory in a men's World Cup would elicit the same questions.

"This is a world championship, so every team here has been fantastic to get to this point. And I think that to be respectful to opponents is to play hard against opponents, and as Alex said, it's a tournament where goal differential is important," Ellis said.

The two teams were the last to kick off in the group stage for the monthlong tournament. Host France opened the World Cup before a sellout crowd in Paris on Friday night with a 4-0 victory over South Korea.

Ranked No. 1 in the world, the Americans had dropped only one match in their previous 38, a loss to France in Le Havre in January. The team was 7-1-2 overall this year, with six straight wins going into the World Cup.

The last time the Americans played in the sport's top tournament, Lloyd had a hat trick in the first 16 minutes and the United States beat Japan 5-2 in Canada for the trophy.

The U.S. pounced early against Thailand, too, on Morgan's header in the 13th minute off Kelley O'Hara's precisely placed cross. Mewis, Lavelle and Horan were all making their World Cup debuts.

"When you get a deluge of goals like that, it's a good feeling," Ellis said. "It builds confidence."

Thailand, ranked No. 34 in the world, was clearly outmatched even though the team has shown progress on the world stage. Making its World Cup debut in 2015 four years ago, Thailand finished third in its group but earned its first win, a 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast.

At the final whistle, Lloyd and Christen Press were seen consoling the Thailand goalkeeper. Morgan put her arm around Thailand's Miranda Nild, who was wiping away tears on the field. Nild and Morgan both played college soccer for the California Golden Bears.

"They were disappointed of course, they intended to make an impression in this first match and they were disappointed," coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian said through a translator. "Yes, they are all athletes and they will be resilient. We've got two more games to play and we need to bounce back."

Srathongvian said soccer in Thailand is still growing and there is a limited pool of players to draw from.

The World Cup comes at a time when female players across the globe are seeking better treatment, conditions and pay. The U.S. national team has long championed equal rights, and players collectively filed a lawsuit earlier this year that alleges discrimination by the U.S. Soccer Federation and are seeking pay equitable with that of the men's national team.

The players say the lawsuit is on hold while they're in France. But a pair of prominent well-wishers on Twitter referenced the team's pursuit of equality.

"The @USWNT is something to smile about. It was great to celebrate with them back in 2015 and I'm excited to root them on in their drive to earn their fourth star. Best of luck to these champions for equality, on and off the field," wrote former President Barack Obama.

Tennis legend Billie Jean King weighed in: "The pursuit of a record 4th World Cup trophy for the #USWNT officially begins today, but the journey has been years in the making. You have the support of a nation behind you. Get that win, and then get the equal pay you deserve!"

Ellis made some lineup moves for the match in the absence of defender Becky Sauerbrunn, whom the team said was held out as a precaution with a minor quad injury. Julie Ertz was moved to the backline and Mewis got the start in the midfield.

Morgan, U.S. Soccer's 2018 Player of the Year, now has 106 international goals. Playing in her third World Cup, she was named player of the match.

It came close to the team's biggest rout ever. The U.S. beat the Dominican Republic 14-0 in a 2012 Olympic qualifier in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Up next for the U.S. is World Cup newcomer Chile on Sunday in Paris. In the final group match before the knockout round, the Americans will travel to Le Havre to face nemesis Sweden, who they've been grouped with six times in World Cup play.

In the last meeting between the teams, Sweden ousted the United States in the quarterfinals at the 2016 Olympics. Afterward, former U.S. goalkeeper Hole Solo called Sweden "cowards" for bunkering on defense. Alyssa Naeher has since replaced Solo, who was dismissed from the team.

Sweden defeated Chile 2-0 earlier on Tuesday in Rennes, a match that featured a 40-minute weather delay. </s> Alex Morgan has 5 goals as US routs Thailand 13-0 in Women’s World Cup

Thailand was not a real threat to the U.S. national team. Even so, the three-time Women’s World Cup champions had no desire to go easy on a lesser opponent in their opening game in France.

Goals matter in the group stage, where goal difference can determine group winners. And statements matter in soccer’s biggest tournament.

“Obviously, we have the utmost respect for everyone we play, but it’s the World Cup,” said Redding native Megan Rapinoe, the U.S. captain.

Alex Morgan tied a Women’s World Cup record with five goals and the United States opened with a historic 13-0 rout of Thailand on Tuesday night in Reims. Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle each added two goals for the United States, which broke the record for goals and margin of victory in a Women’s World Cup game.

Rapinoe, Lindsey Horan, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also scored. The previous record margin was Germany’s 11-0 victory over Argentina in 2007.

Morgan tied Michelle Akers’ record for Women’s World Cup goals, set in the quarterfinals against Taiwan in 1991. The team’s seven different scorers also set a tournament record.

Lloyd, 36, became the oldest American woman to score at a World Cup and joined Germany’s Birgit Prinz as the only players to score in five straight World Cup games.

The United States faced criticism over its relentless attack. The Americans led 3-0 at the break and then broke the match open in the second half, with the players celebrating goal after goal.

The Americans meant no disrespect, said Morgan, but they simply wanted to position themselves for a run at a second consecutive title.

“We really just came into the game really wanting to showcase ourselves,” Morgan said. “Every goal matters in this tournament and that’s what we were working on.”

Morgan, U.S. Soccer’s 2018 Player of the Year, has 106 international goals.

At the final whistle, Lloyd and Stanford alum Christen Press consoled Thailand goalkeeper Sukanya Chor Charoenying. Morgan put her arm around Thailand’s Miranda Nild, who was wiping away tears on the field. Nild and Morgan both played college soccer for Cal.

Thailand, ranked No. 34 in the world, has shown progress on the world stage. Making its World Cup debut in 2015 four years ago, Thailand finished third in its group and earned its first win, a 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast.

The last time the Americans played in the sport’s top tournament, Lloyd had a hat trick in the first 16 minutes and the United States beat Japan 5-2 in Canada for the trophy.

Next for the U.S. is Chile on Sunday in Paris.

Other games: Also in Group F, Kosovare Asllani’s goal after a 40-minute weather delay late in the second half broke up a scoreless stalemate in Rennes and Sweden won its opener 2-0 and spoil Chile’s debut in the tournament. ... Jill Roord came off the bench and scored in stoppage time to give the Netherlands a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in a Group E opener in Le Havre.
Ellen White becomes England's all-time leading FIFA Women's World Cup Final goalscorer with the team's second goal against Norway in the 2019 Women's World Cup quarterfinal win.