Morgan scores and Naeher saves in 2-1 victory over England

LYON, France — With Alex Morgan's cheeky tea-sipping celebration and a postgame mobbing of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, the United States has moved a step closer to successfully defending its latest Women's World Cup title.

Morgan scored the go-ahead goal and Naeher preserved the 2-1 semifinal victory over England by smothering a late penalty kick Tuesday night.

The top-ranked United States will now face the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between the Netherlands and Sweden in the Americans' third straight appearance in the World Cup title match.

Christen Press — who started with Megan Rapinoe out with a hamstring injury — put the United States up early but Ellen White's goal tied it before 20 minutes had passed. Morgan's sixth goal of the tournament came before the break, and on her 30th birthday. She hadn't had a goal since she scored five in the team's 13-0 rout of Thailand to open the tournament.

After her goal, Morgan pantomimed a sip of tea on the field.

"I feel like this team just has had so much thrown at us, and I felt that we didn't take the easy route to the final this tournament, and that's the tea," she said.

White's goal was also her sixth but Morgan has the edge for the tournament's Golden Boot with three assists. White appeared to score her seventh in the 69th minute but video review determined she was offside — and the Americans in the crowd of 53,512 at Stade de Lyon roared.