'Distasteful': USA captain slammed in dramatic World Cup win

Juventus forward Lianne Sanderson has weighed in on Alex Morgan’s controversial celebration during the USA’s Women’s World Cup semi-final win over England.

The USWNT progressed to the final of the competition with a 2-1 win over the Lionesses in what proved to be a headline-grabbing game for a number of reasons – but Morgan divided opinion with her celebration after netting her side’s second.

Christen Press’ 10th-minute strike handed the holders the initiative, nine minutes before Ellen White levelled the scoring.

Morgan’s strike after 31 minutes proved to be the decisive goal however, and England international Sanderson felt her reaction was unnecessary.

Morgan celebrated her 31st-minute headed goal, which proved to be the match-winner, with a tea-sipping gesture while Alyssa Naeher saved an 84th-minute penalty from England's Steph Houghton.

“I think tonight I expected Alex to grab a goal, but I’m not that happy with that celebration,” she told beIN Sports.

“You can celebrate however you want but that for me is a bit distasteful and I don’t think she needs to do that.

“She can celebrate however she wants and I’m a big believer in the Americans and how they celebrate, but for me this was a little bit disrespectful.”

USA held on after taking the lead for a second time to reach the final and have a chance at retaining the World Cup after winning the competition in 2015.

The Lionesses ran them close, seeing a second goal from White ruled offside by VAR before Houghton missed the late penalty that would have drawn the game level.

Millie Bright was later shown a red card with four minutes remaining.

Phil Neville's side headed to Lyon with dreams of becoming the first senior England team - male or female - to contest a World Cup final since 1966 but the Lionesses' third penalty miss of the tournament - this one in front of 53,512 fans at Stade de Lyon - proved costly.

Christen Press, who was in the starting line-up in place of the injured Megan Rapinoe, put the US ahead with a header in the 10th minute before Ellen White's goal drew England level in the 19th minute.

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 13-0 rout of Thailand in her team's tournament opener.

It was also White's sixth goal but Morgan has the edge for the tournament's Golden Boot with three assists.

White had the ball in the net again in the 69th minute but video review determined she was offside.

Replays showed the English were terribly unfortunate to see the call go against them, with only centimetres in the decision.

England were then the beneficiaries of a second controversial VAR intervention, when White was awarded a soft penalty after Becky Sauerbrunn made contact with her trailing leg in the box.

However, captain Houghton - on spot-kick duty after Nikita Parris missed England's last two - produced a poor effort from 12 yards, with Naeher making the save low to her right.

To further sour England's night, Millie Bright was sent off late for a second yellow card.

United States coach Jill Ellis told the BBC: "We had some challenges and everyone stepped up and that's what this team is about so just incredibly proud of them."

On her message to the squad Ellis said: "First I said we've got four days in between (games) this time so this will help, I just said stay humble we've got one more."

Neville said there should be no tears from his England players after their exit.

"My players give me everything. We said before the game we wanted to leave our hearts and souls on that pitch and they did, they gave everything," he told the BBC.

England will play off for third on Saturday in Nice.

With agencies