Red Stars’ Alyssa Naeher becomes latest World Cup hero for U.S. in semifinal win over England

Chicago Red Stars goaltender Alyssa Naeher took center stage for Team USA in their 2-1 win over England in the 2019 Women’s World Cup semifinal Tuesday. The 31-year-old made several huge saves in the win, and none bigger than the stop on a penalty shot in the 83rd minute to maintain a one-goal advantage.

Naeher, who’s played for the Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League since 2016, made arguably the biggest play of the game in the highlight posted above.

Following a video-assisted review that gave Ellen White a penalty shot with the game potentially on the line, the U.S. netminder kept her composure in stopping a surprisingly tame attempt from White while her teammates ran in.

It was a stunning play as part of a wild sequence that also saw England lose a goal after VAR determined the scorer was offside. Naeher’s save helped take the pressure off quickly as the Americans regained control, especially after a red card forced the Lionesses to play with just 10 women.

The U.S. went on to win the match, 2-1, and will face the winner of the Sweden-Netherlands semifinal in the final match on July 7.