Alyssa Naeher was supposed to be the weakness. The Achilles heel. The insufficient Hope Solo replacement, the question mark, and so much more.

But on Tuesday, in the biggest game of her life, she was the hero. The player 22 teammates mobbed at the final whistle. They – the U.S. women’s national team – are headed to the 2019 World Cup final because of her.

Christen Press and Alex Morgan had given the U.S. a 2-1 lead over England. Naeher then saved an 84th-minute penalty to preserve it, and ultimately seal the semifinal win.

 

 

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NAEHER SAVES!!!!!!!!!!

The Americans are now 90 minutes away from back-to-back world championships. One more ascent away from their sport’s mountaintop. On Sunday (11 a.m. ET, Fox), either Sweden or the Netherlands will stand between them and a fourth star.

But first, they’ll savor a thriller. One of the games of the tournament. And, given context and narratives, an all-time great World Cup moment.

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U.S. gets another early goal

It took the U.S. 12 minutes against Thailand. Eleven against Chile. Three against Sweden, seven against Spain, and five against France.

On Tuesday, the Americans did it again. For the sixth consecutive World Cup game – and seventh dating back to 2015 – they scored inside 12 minutes. Press – who started in place of an injured Megan Rapinoe – needed less than 10 to break the deadlock.

This, though, was a brilliant team goal. Tobin Heath picked out Rose Lavelle in a pocket of space. Lavelle let the ball run through her legs, into the path of Kelley O’Hara. O’Hara’s cross beat the English defense, and Press beat backup keeper Carly Telford:

Lavelle created the goal without even touching the ball. And she did plenty else with it at her feet as well.

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Rose Lavelle dazzled, and the U.S.

The U.S. was the better team in the first half. And the talisman was Lavelle. Three minutes into the game, she humiliated Millie Bright, danced into the box, and tested Telford.

Later in the half, she caught two 20-yard shots really well. Telford’s palms kept one out of the back of the net. An English defender’s forehead foiled the other.

Throughout the half, she glided past opponents in midfield, as she’s done all tournament. She was the most influential player on the field, even if her name won’t show up on the scoresheet – until she exited with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after an hour.

And the Americans, in part thanks to her excellence, were on top … until they weren’t.

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England equalizes, and ascends

As it had done against France, the U.S. gradually began to sit back after the early goal. And it paid a price. It gave England’s Keira Walsh loads of space at the base of midfield to survey the field.

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With neither Lindsey Horan nor Julie Ertz stepping up to pressure the ball, Walsh picked out Beth Mead on the left. Mead crossed for Ellen White, whose redirection pinged in off the post.

Before and after the equalizer, England found a foothold in the game. At 1-1, Walsh tested Naeher with a slicing drive. Naeher, for not the last time, was up to the task.

U.S. retakes the lead

The game swung again just after the half-hour mark – and again thanks to a superb team move.

Abby Dahlkemper bypassed England’s midfield with a pinpoint cross-field ball to Press. Press played to Horan, who clipped in a cross that Morgan flicked home:

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The ball from Dahlkemper to start it though. HOO BABY. COME ON.

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U.S. hangs on thanks to Naeher and VAR

The second half was less eventful. But two events nearly brought England level again.

First, White had the ball in the back of the net – but she was inches offside:

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OFFSIDE!

VAR rules out what would have been Ellen White’s second goal and second equalizer of the game! #FIFAWWC

The video assistant referee notified the head referee, who disallowed the goal.

Then, with 12 minutes remaining, VAR worked against the Americans. Replays showed that Becky Sauerbrunn clipped White’s heel as she tried to connect with a slow cross:

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PENALTY TO ENGLAND!

Ellen White couldn’t get a foot on Stokes’ cross, VAR took a look, and a penalty is called on Sauerbrunn! #FIFAWWC

But Naeher, in the biggest of moments, came up even bigger. The oft-criticized keeper dove right and corralled Steph Houghton’s penalty. Her teammates mobbed her. After England was reduced to 10 players by Millie Bright’s red card, they saw out the win. And they are 90 minutes from returning to the top of the women’s soccer world.

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Henry Bushnell

Henry Bushnell is a features writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at [email protected], or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.