USA vs Netherlands result: United States win Women’s World Cup after Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle goals

USA 2-0 Netherlands: Second half goals from Rapinoe and Lavelle were enough to see the 2015 winners retain their title

Call them arrogant, if you want. Call them hubristic and self-conceited. Call them ‘the Bayern Munich of women’s football’. Call their celebrations “distasteful”, too. Sorry, but the United States will not care because whatever your opinion of them, you must also call them world champions.

For a fourth time in eight tournaments, the Women’s World Cup will travel Stateside after a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a sublime Rose Lavelle goal beat the Netherlands in Lyon. The identity of the scorers was significant: a long-standing icon and a future figurehead, in a team whose dominance seems constant.

It was the American victory many expected, though it did not come with the ease they also predicted. For the first time at this tournament, the US failed to score before 13th minute. They had to wait an hour, in the end, against a Dutch side that sat tight, broke at speed and frustrated them.

Head coach Sarina Weigman’s plan worked until her centre-half, Stefanie van der Gragt, was correctly penalised for raking her studs down Alex Morgan’s arm. Golden Ball winner Rapinoe converted from the spot to take the Golden Boot away from her team-mate. The goal also took the game away from the Netherlands.

And if Rapinoe represents the US’s supremacy of this sport over the past eight years, they will hope Lavelle’s goal is a harbinger of more glories to come. The 24-year-old scored the type of goal she must have spent her formative years dreaming of, when she was watching the women she now plays and wins with on the same rarefied level.

The incessant controversy – manufactured or otherwise – that surrounds this team is unlikely to subside. That open invitation to the White House still requires a response. But that sideshow and others risk drowning out the wider significance of this win, one which may yet be the defining legacy of this World Cup.

It should not be forgotten that this group of women entered the tournament in a legal dispute with their federation, demanding parity with their less successful male counterparts. Success in France or otherwise should never have been a deciding factor in that, but when chants of “equal pay” followed the trophy lift, you felt this could make a historic difference.

Those issues have been overshadowed of late by the ‘arrogance’ debate, and it coloured the build-up to this final. Danielle van de Donk, the Netherlands midfielder, knew where she stood. “’They’re basically already congratulating us on finishing in second place,” she said. “I don’t think they think we’re that good.”

Rapinoe scored from the spot (AFP/Getty Images)

That may have been the case, it may not. Van de Donk and her Dutch team-mates were determined to show their opponents that, if not good, they were at least tough. The initial stages were punishing on the Americans, and it started with a blunt, early refusal to stop play when Morgan was down hurt.

Van de Donk was then one of several Dutch players to leave a foot in late on an opponent. Her forceful challenge on Julie Ertz was quickly followed by Sherida Spitse’s lash on Lavelle’s ankle. Even their goal-poaching striker, Vivianne Miedema, even felt it necessary to rap Ertz’s legs off-the-ball.

This aggression was combined with a drilled and disciplined defensive unit, allowing little space in behind. It made the opening 45 minutes hard work for the defending champions. The US’s first shot on target – a wild, instinctive volley by Ertz – took nearly half an hour to arrive.

Rapinoe celebrated her opening goal (REUTERS)

It was only at the half’s close that goalkeeper Sari Van Veenendaal was truly tested. And how. In the space of a minute, two Rapinoe crosses created two opportunities. Van Veenendaal stopped the goal-bound Sam Mewis header with her midriff and turned a Morgan flick against the post.

Van Veenendaal was later named the goalkeeper of the tournament: a fact which made her non-attempt to save the penalty all the more puzzling. It was awarded by VAR, though not controversially, as anyone who witnessed the replay of Van der Gragt’s high kick on Morgan would agree.

Rapinoe, who had looked off-the-pace up until this point, casually stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. Van Veenendaal was perhaps too mindful of keeping at least one foot on her goal-line. Except for two short steps forward, she barely moved, practically watching the penalty run past her.

Lavelle fired in a second (AP)

Suddenly, that Dutch discipline and shape that had held so well disintegrated. The US were now slipping in behind at will. Eight minutes after Rapinoe’s penalty came the moment for which this game will be remembered and the highlight in the young career of midfielder Rose Lavelle.

Lavelle has enjoyed a remarkable tournament, though never a moment quite like this. Taking up possession close to the halfway line, she proceeded towards goal unchallenged. The orange shirts in front kept on backing off and backing off, inviting her eventually to shimmy left and drill a low shot into the corner.

In those closing stages, there could have been more. If they really wanted to, the US could have got greedy. But all this group of players has ever really wanted is to be recognised for what they are, and what this fourth win since 1991 unquestionably proves them to be: the best in the world.