Being outplayed throughout the second half and having seen a 1-0 halftime lead evaporate, the United States needed a spark.

Abby Wambach was there to provide it.

Wambach's header off a corner kick in the 79th minute gave the USA the lead for good, and Alex Morgan added an insurance goal three minutes later as the US reached the World Cup Final for the first time since winning the Cup in 1999.

On a cool, drizzly day in Germany, the Americans got the early lead on a goal by Lauren Cheney in the ninth minute.  But the French kept the pressure on the US and its stellar goalkeeper Hope Solo.  The Americans led 1-0 at the half, but it was obvious the French weren't going to go quietly.

The equalizer came in the 55th minute, when Sonia Bompastor hit a long range left-footer past Solo to even the match.  France continued to apply the pressure, possessing the ball for nearly 56 percent of the time and outshooting the Americans 22-6.

But the US finally got a break on the corner kick by Cheney in the 79th minute.  Wambach came in and blasted the header into the net to give the Americans the lead.

Just three minutes later, Morgan scored on a left footer from the left side to the bottom right corner and the Americans had the breathing room they needed.  It was Morgan's first ever World Cup goal.

The Americans will now meet either Japan or Sweden in the final.

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