The US Women’s Soccer Team Takes On Japan for the World Cup
The US Women’s National Team defeated Japan 5-2 at BC Place on Sunday night to become the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion and the first three-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner. The USA is now the only country to win three Women’s World Cup and the country to score the most goals (5) in a WWC Final – no other team has ever scored more than two. Some may be eyeing them for thier fantasy soccer team after this match.
The first showing came in the US resounding win over Germany in the semifinals, when the five-midfielder formation was tantalizingly unveiled. The key has been Lloyd’s repositioning as a defacto forward, playing just under or beside striker Morgan. The energy and skill and power were elevated to an entirely new level. The question was whether the US was going to be able to keep it going?
In the first 16 minutes of play the USA took a 4-0 lead over Japan after Carli Lloyd netted the fastest hat trick in Women’s World Cup history and Lauren Holiday added a goal to put the USA up by a wide margin.
Lauren Holiday Scoring the First Goal Against Japan
Lloyd was clearly in a hurry to make good on the formation shift that had put the keys to the US attack in her hands. The 32-year-old, New Jersey native who has dedicated herself lock, stock and barrel to becoming the best player in the world got the US on the board 3 minutes into the match. Lloyd took up position on the middle of the box where she converted a corner from Megan Rapinoe. That was just the start. Lloyd added her second goal less than two minutes later on a second set piece. Lauren Holiday took the free kick and Julie Johnston had a back-heeled shot blocked, but Lloyd was there to collect the rebound and knock down the second US goal.
By the time Lloyd added her third goal, the US was up 4-0 and the packed house inside BC Place went from frenzied to shocked. Was it really already over? As the U.S. settled the pace and started to take its time moving the ball upfield, Utsugi pushed to break up the slow progression the U.S. was trying to maintain. The veteran midfielder was unwilling to let the US take complete control of the tone of the match.
Meghan Klingenberg Goes Head to Head With Yuki Ogimi of Japan
It wasn’t long before Japan was able to advance the ball into the US defensive end. That set up Japan’s first goal- in the 28th minute, Yuki Ogimi took a pass in the middle of the box and, when Julie Johnston attempted a slide tackle on the play, Ogimi was left standing. All she did from there was turn and fire off a rising shot that Solo tried to lay out and stop, but it blew past her fingers and into the goal.
But by the time Sawa hit the field, the US had staked itself too great of a lead. In the 52nd minute, the score was lifted to 4-2 when Johnston’s header in the box deflected past a surprised Hope Solo, resulting in an own goal. But, two minutes later, Tobin Heath chalked up the 5th US goal on an assist from Morgan Brian.
The next move Japan made was one to substitute in 36-year-old Sawa for Azusa Iwashimizu. The US barrage left Iwashimizu winded and overwhelmed and, once on the bench, the defender needed consoling from her teammates. Sawa came on the field ready to try and inspire another Japan comeback, just as she had done four years ago in blocking the US Women’s team from taking the cup in Frankfurt, Germany.
Goal Scored on Japan from Carli Lloyd
But by the time Sawa hit the field, the US lead was too much to bear. In the 52nd minute, the score was lifted to 4-2 when Johnston’s header in the box deflected past a surprised Hope Solo, resulting in an own goal. The US was not ready to let Japan back into the game, however- just two minutes later, Tobin Heath added the 5th US goal on an assist inside the box from Morgan Brian.
By barraging Japan early and often, the US women’s national team has once again crowned itself the Women’s World Cup champs. It’s the third time in history, and while it’s long overdue, the title brings incredible relief to a team loaded with international superstars whose careers deserved this ultimate glory. Loyd and goalkeeper Hope Solo were awarded the Golden Ball and Golden Glove, as the best player and the best goalkeeper at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, respectively. It was the second straight Golden Glove award for Solo (she also won it in 2011) and the first for Lloyd. Lloyd became the second American to win the award, joining Carin Jennings, who won it in 1991.
Megan Rapinoe Celebrating the Win
Wambach, the all-time leading international goal scorer, will all but certainly retire with a World Cup befitting her stellar legacy. Same for veterans like Christie Rampone, Shannon Boxx, Heather O’Reilly, Lori Chalupny and Amy Rodriguez.
“I swear I think this is surreal, I don’t even think this is real life,” a joyful Wambach said after the win. “I’m so thankful that we stuck together as a team. We didn’t buy into any of that cynicism that was creeping in during the group stage. This is a championship for everyone.”
Congratulations to the US Women’s National Soccer Team!
