Alex Morgan 'sips' tea after goal

The US Women's national soccer team is going to the World Cup final, but it's a single moment during the game that has some people steeping with anger.

Morgan scored, giving the U.S. the lead in the semifinal match Tuesday and then stopped to take a sip of imaginary tea as she ran to the sidelines, Reuters reported.

#USWNT star Alex Morgan celebrates her goal against England by sipping on an imaginary cup of tea to mock the English. Rivalry born. #ENG 1-2 #USA #FIFAWWC #ENGUSA pic.twitter.com/5csXx8tajH
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) July 2, 2019

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It's that simple mime that has fans on both sides of the pond debating on whether it was appropriate.

"I could be wrong but it's based upon playing against England and we love our tea in England. I'm not a tea drinker but that's what we're connected with so I think it's a little bit distasteful," Lianne Sanderson said.

☕ @liannesanderson calls Alex Morgan's tea sipping celebration "distasteful."

📺 Live now on HD11#beINWWC #beINSPIRED19 #ENGUSA #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/dwvowkcdK6
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 2, 2019

This is not proper sportsmanship. Then again, their leader is unpatriotic....

Alex Morgan Trolls England with Tea Sipping Celebration After Scoring Winning Goal https://t.co/fLiZuZl01e
— Nanci Maynard (@NanciMaynard1) July 3, 2019

Oh dear. Her celebration is ill thought out. No offence taken by me because even though I am English I don't drink #tea as I can't stand the stuff #dontstereotypeme

Alex Morgan's World Cup tea celebration evokes Independence Day for US - https://t.co/9gz4graJUX
— Diana Marshall-Kay (@Diskay15) July 3, 2019

Morgan defended her tea sip heard around the soccer world saying, "I wanted to keep it interesting. I know Megan Rapinoe has the best celebration. I had to try and step up this game.

"I feel like this team has had so much thrown at them and us. I feel like we didn't take an easy route through this tournament and 'that's the tea.'"

Many media outlets are pointing out the timing of the tea sip, the fact that it was only two days before Independence Day, Time reported. It also reminded some of the Boston Tea Party.

Alex Morgan at the Boston Tea Party, 1773. Oil on canvas. pic.twitter.com/rRUU8ASagd
— 🇺🇸🍊 (@johnstons08) July 2, 2019

The sip celebration also came on Morgan's 30th birthday.

No. 13 on her birthday. In honor of those 13 colonies.

That’s. The. Tea 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Go on, @alexmorgan13, what a birthday! pic.twitter.com/Rge0HMMrCk
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) July 2, 2019

Alex Morgan scored a goal on her 30th birthday AND THEN HAD A CUP OF TEA pic.twitter.com/csvFAlZRhC
— SB Nation (@SBNation) July 2, 2019

Alex Morgan trolling England by sipping tea is LEGENDARY 😭🐐pic.twitter.com/BzIBNx0xzu
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 2, 2019

Some fans from England either weren't too happy about the celebration itself but took it with a grain of salt (or would that be a cube of sugar?).

The most hilarious thing about Alex Morgan's celebration is that Americans think we're all about Downton Abbey and high tea, instead of Love Island and Dark Fruits pic.twitter.com/1xODxNPd2x
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 2, 2019