PARIS, France -- Megan Rapinoe played a memorable role when a World Cup quarterfinal launched a new golden era for the United States women's national team eight years ago, serving up the pinpoint pass that Abby Wambach headed home in extra time against Brazil.
Friday night, even as darkness finally fell over a boisterous Parc des Princes in another quarterfinal for the ages, Rapinoe made sure the sun hasn't set on that era quite yet.
Scoring two goals for the second consecutive game, the first player to do that in the World Cup since Marta in 2007, Rapinoe propelled the United States to a 2-1 win against France in front of a crowd of 45,595 in Paris.