The United States set up an early clash with Germany after beating China 1-0 in Ottawa on Friday in the quarter-final of the 2015 Canada Women's World Cup.
Carli Lloyd scored the winner with a header in the 51st minute for the Americans, while Germany edged off France 6-5 in penalty shootouts after the game ended 1-1 after extra time.
Facing one of the best defensive teams in the tournament, the U.S. found it hard to break the blocks with only Alex Morgan at front. With Abby Wambach, Rapinoe and Holiday on the bench, the U.S. had to settled with a 0-0 first half.
But the U.S. did not wait long for the scoring as Lloyd jumped high in the air to catch a through ball from Julie Johnston and sent the ball into the left corner with her head six minutes after the break.
China put up some attacks after that but did not have clear chances to score against the solid back of the U.S., which conceded only one goal so far in the tournament.
In Montreal, France played like at their home field and dominated for most of the game against the world No. 1 ranked Germany. They had a great opportunity to open the scoring right after the kick-off when Necib was found open before the mouth of the goal but shot inches wide off the pole.
Both teams had numerous chances to score in the first half with the French having better of the game. After a goalless first half, Germany came back strongly with Celia Sasic and Dzsenifer Marozsan missed chances to score.
It was Necib who eventually broke the deadlock as she fired from behind two defenders abruptly on driving with goalkeeper Nadine Angerer having no time to react.
Sasic saved Germany in the 84th minute after she converted a penalty kick, awarded from a handling of Amel Majri in the area.
But France still had chances as Gaetane Thiney wasted a golden opportunity in the extra time to put her side into the last four for the second straight time, and the game went on to the penalty shoot-outs.
Germany made all their five shots and France made four in row. The pressure landed on 21-year-old substitute Claire Lavogez, who shot the ball onto Angerer's leg and the game ended in favor of Germany.
