U.S. clears air, moves into semis

TIANJIN, China – Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly held a players meeting in their hotel room a day before the United States played England in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup.

All meetings should be so productive.

Having aired any grievances, the U.S. went on to defeat England 3-0 Saturday on second-half goals from Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Lilly during a 12-minute span.

“We came together and we said: ‘Everybody get off your shoulders what you want to say,’ ” defender Cat Whitehill said. “It was just kind of an open forum for us. Just to say this is what I think is working, and this is what I think isn’t working. I think it really helped us.”

The No. 1-ranked Americans advanced to Thursday’s semifinal in Hangzhou. The final is Sept. 30 in Shanghai, with the U.S. seeking a third title to go with the ones from 1991 and ‘99.

The Americans will meet the winner of today’s Brazil-Australia quarterfinal in Tianjin, with the South Americans heavily favored. In Saturday’s other semifinal in Wuhan, Germany, defeated North Korea 3-0 and will play Norway or China in the semifinals.

After a scoreless first half, Wambach banged in a header in the 48th minute, directing home a corner kick from Lilly before a crowd listed at 29,000, although far fewer fans seemed to be in 60,000-seat Olympic Center Stadium. It was her fourth goal of the tournament and her 81st for the national team in 100 appearances.

“The first goal is always critical in a match,” American coach Greg Ryan said. “It was difficult for England to get their game going again after that. They lost the momentum and we kept pressing, going after them.”

Lilly, 36, the captain, is playing in an unprecedented fifth Women’s World Cup. She and Wambach are almost psychic in anticipating each other’s moves.

“She looks up; I look at her,” Wambach said. “We make eye contact and she just puts a perfect ball on the back post.”