MONTREAL — It used to be that the U.S. women’s national team was known more for its fierce offene. For the Women’s World Cup in Canada, the Americans are finding success with a locked-down defense.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo, beleaguered at the start by new revelations in her domestic violence assault case last year, has had five straight shutouts.

Hope Solo of the United States has allowed one goal in the World Cup and the team has gone 513 minutes without allowing another. Now, the final against Japan.

TITLE GAME REMATCH

WHO: United States vs. Japan

WHEN: 6 p.m. Sunday

TELEVISION: FOX

Her latest came Tuesday night as the United States beat top-ranked Germany 2-0 in a semifinal before a raucous pro-American crowd in Montreal.

Normally focused to the point of appearing stern, television cameras caught Solo break into a smile late in the match when it appeared the United States had guaranteed its place in the final against Japan, which defeated England 2-1 in the other semifinal Wednesday night.

Now it’s on to the title match Sunday night at Vancouver. Four years ago in Germany, Japan defeated the United States on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw for its first World Cup title.

The U.S. women have won two World Cups but the last came in 1999. This will be the team’s fourth appearance in the final.

The team’s success has been boosted not only by Solo’s spectacular work but a stellar backline of Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston and Ali Krieger.

The United States has gone 513 minutes without conceding a goal. Only Australia, in the first half of the group-stage opener, managed to score against the Americans.

“It’s a spectacular stat, to be honest with you. I always tell the team, we just need one more than our opponent if we keep a (shutout),” Coach Jill Ellis said. “And it’s not just our goalkeeper and our back four. I think this team has embraced the accountability and responsibility of defending on every line. It’s something we ask of them but they deliver. They understand that it’s important.”

Klingenberg pulled off a big save in the highly anticipated group stage match against No. 5 Sweden, led by former U.S. coach Pia Sundhage. The diminutive defender leaped to head away a shot by Caroline Seger. The ball hit the crossbar and caromed away from the goal. Goal-line technology was used to confirm the ball never crossed the line.

The save in the 77th minute preserved the 0-0 draw and the United States went on to finish atop the group stage heading into the knockout round.

Solo hasn’t spoken to reporters covering the event since brief remarks following the opener against the Matildas. Just before the World Cup, ESPN revealed new details about Solo’s arrest last June for domestic violence assault. The misdemeanor charges stemmed from an altercation with her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew at a party in Washington.

The charges were dropped earlier this year.

Solo has talked about her play via videos released by U.S. Soccer.

“I’ve said it all along, you have a young player like Julie Johnston, who was ready for the big stage. She was ready for this type of tournament, she’s come a long way in the last year. You put her beside somebody as calm as Becky Sauerbrunn and it makes the perfect mix,” Solo said. “Obviously our wingers are incredible.”

Johnston, who made just three appearances with the national team last year before emerging as a starter leading up to the World Cup, has undeniably been a success story. But she admittedly made a mistake Tuesday when she fouled Alexandra Popp of Germany inside the box in the 59th minute. It was a foul that could have garnered her a red card.

But Celia Sasic, the World Cup’s top scorer with six goals, missed the penalty kick wide. The United States went on to score twice, on Carli Lloyd’s penalty kick and Kelley O’Hara’s late goal.

Solo and Sauerbrunn both pulled a teary-eyed Johnston aside after the foul.

“I think it’s important for me to learn from it,” Johnston said. “I don’t want that to ever happen again.”

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