Monmouth Alum Rampone Leads US Over France 3-1 in World Cup Semifinals

The U.S. womens' soccer team beat France 3-1 in the World Cup on Wednesday afternoon, with the last two goals scored within minutes of each other.

The U.S. now advances to the finals, playing again on Sunday, and is one game away from winning the World Cup.

U.S. kicker Lauren Cheney got a goal early in the game in Germany - with an assist from East Brunswick's Heather O'Reilly - with France coming back shortly after half time with a goal of their own.

The U.S. team, led by Point Borough High School alumnus , team captain and defender, ended the halftime 1-0, but gave up a goal at 1:10 p.m. EST.

About 10 minutes later, Rampone stopped a ball headed for the U.S. net.

"Rampone to the rescue," quipped one of the ESPN pundits.

Abby Wambach, who scored a dramatic header in the last few minutes of Sunday's game, got a header against France.

Only minutes later, Alex Morgan, the team's youngest player, got her first World Cup goal to bring the score up to 3.

The U.S. beat North Korea to begin their World Cup run, then beat Colombia, lost to Sweden and then beat Brazil on Sunday.

The Brazil game had so many twists and turns in the last few minutes that many soccer pundits are saying it was the most riveting game in the history of men's or women's soccer.

ESPN will broadcast the final at 2 p.m. Sunday, when the U.S. will play Japan in Frankfurt.

According to the Associated Press, although the Americans are two-time World Cup champions, they haven't made the final since Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain won it all in 1999.