81’

RENARD SCORES!!! And we have a ballgame. It’s 2-1.

That’s the fault of the earlier play, but picture perfect for France. The 6-foot-1 Renard, starting off between Rapinoe and Horan, runs untouched for a header and beats Naeher from close range. No chance for the goalkeeper now, but the last 10 minutes just got verrrrrry interesting.

Renard had scored twice on headers in France’s opening game, and at the time it appeared her forehead was going to be the most dangerous weapon in this World Cup. But France really hasn’t exploited her size advantage on set pieces effectively since that night — until now.

Carli Lloyd comes on for Mewis before play restarts. Odd choice given they have very different games, but Lloyd will bring grit and a hard head on all these set pieces France is winning. Plus, if the Americans are going to surrender this lead, it will have to be ripped from Lloyd’s hands.

79’

Naeher tips Le Sommer’s shot over the bar. Wow.

She comes down screaming at her defense, which failed her badly there. Dunn never covered the player who crossed the ball on the right wing, and Le Sommer was able to stab the cross with her toe under pressure. It balloons high in the air but would have gone in if Naeher hadn’t jumped to push it over.

75’

Heath closes it!!!! Nooooooo! Offside!

That was a gorgeous move by the U.S., with Dunn centering and Heath closing effortlessly in the center. But the flag is up, and so are Heath’s hands to her face.

The replay appeared to show Dunn was onside, but play had restarted, so there will be no V.A.R. on that one. That’s not how the system is supposed to work, but once the ball returns to play, it’s too late.

70’

Open header for Gauvin!

Oh wait, that’s because she was two yards offside. Crisis averted for the U.S. back line.

The Americans are ceding possession willingly here, and France just can’t seem to figure out what to do with it. Maybe their game plan was to counterattack, maybe the pressure of the moment has gotten to them, but they seem out of solutions, and a five-player back line — with Mewis and Horan posted just in front of it — isn’t making it any easier.