Women’s World Cup: USA Enjoys Sweet Victory Over Japan

Matt Vespa | July 05, 2015 9:36 PM

In Vancouver, Canada, Japan and the United States duked it out once again in the Women’s World Cup. It’s a rematch some have been hoping for since the U.S. went down in defeat in 2011, following a penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw in regulation.

#USA wins 1st Women's World Cup title since 1999, is 1st country to win 3 Women's World Cups pic.twitter.com/WY0C5kdV9k
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 6, 2015

This year, no penalty shoot-out was needed. In fact, it wasn’t even close. Less than 20 minutes into the game, the U.S. Women’s Team delivered four goals over Japan in rapid succession that must’ve stunned most who made predictions on this game.

U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd proved to be the point of the lance, scoring three minutes after kickoff, and again two minutes later. The momentum did not stop there. Midfielder and forward Lauren Holiday scored at 14 minutes, followed again by Lloyd at 16 minutes. It was a lightning war over the Japanese Women’s Team, who managed to score 27 minutes into regulation thanks to Yuki Ogimi. Japan would score again after U.S. defender Julie Johnston accidentally headed the ball into our own goal in the second half. Nevertheless, the error was long forgotten after Tobin Heath scored shortly thereafter, giving the US its fifth goal.

The United States’ victory also placed a spotlight on Hope Solo, who is arguably the world’s best goalkeeper, according to the New York Times, but it’s somewhat bittersweet; this will be the last World Cup that will see Abby Wambach on the U.S. Women’s Team. The Times added that Wambach is international soccer’s leading scoring player, with 183 goals. But she’s never been able to clinch a World Cup title … until tonight.