USA 5-2 Japan: Carli Lloyd nets stunning early 13-minute hat-trick as Americans win dramatic Women's World Cup final
PUBLISHED: 00:23, 6 July 2015 | UPDATED: 02:44, 6 July 2015
Carli Lloyd enjoyed the game of her life as the United States beat Japan 5-2 to win the Women's World Cup.
Barely 15 minutes had elapsed when Lloyd put the USA 4-0 up, completing her World Cup final hat-trick with a goal from the halfway line - a career peak surely beyond the dreams of any player, male or female.
Lauren Holiday had volleyed the third and though Japan pulled one back through Yuki Ogimi and another when Julie Johnston put through her own goal, Tobin Heath's goal quickly eased any doubts over the result.
- Carli Lloyd netted twice in opening five minutes before Lauren Holiday added third
- Midfielder Lloyd then completed her hat-trick with a stunner from the halfway line
- Yuki Ogimi pulled one back for Japan just before the half-hour mark
- Julie Johnston then scored own goal before Tobin Heath replied with fifth for US
PUBLISHED: 00:23, 6 July 2015 | UPDATED: 02:44, 6 July 2015
Carli Lloyd enjoyed the game of her life as the United States beat Japan 5-2 to win the Women's World Cup.
Barely 15 minutes had elapsed when Lloyd put the USA 4-0 up, completing her World Cup final hat-trick with a goal from the halfway line - a career peak surely beyond the dreams of any player, male or female.
Lauren Holiday had volleyed the third and though Japan pulled one back through Yuki Ogimi and another when Julie Johnston put through her own goal, Tobin Heath's goal quickly eased any doubts over the result.
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USA's women celebrate as they lift the Women's World Cup trophy after beating Japan in the final
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Christie Rampone (centre) kisses the trophy after their triumph in Vancouver on Sunday
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Golden ticker tape falls down from the sky as the US women's national team delight in their thumping of Japan
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The USA players were all smiles after thrashing their opposition 5-2 in the final in Vancouver on Sunday
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Goalkeeper Hope Solo (centre) lifts the World Cup trophy as the rest of her team pose with their medals
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USA legend Abby Wambach (centre) screams in celebration after their 5-2 victory over Japan
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USA star Alex Morgan cries while wrapped in a flag after full-time at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver
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The USA women grasping flags clap their joyous fans in Vancouver after their incredible win
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Japan's Mana Iwabuchi lies emotional on the pitch at the BC Place Stadium after they were dramatically beaten by the US
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Substitute Wambach holds up a USA flag as she celebrates in front of her fans at the BC Place Stadium
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United States No 10 Carli Lloyd poses with the Golden Ball trophy after the World Cup final
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Jill Ellis' side thus avenged their defeat in the 2011 final between these sides, to the delight of the majority of the 53,341 crowd in Vancouver.
The Americans took the lead with the first attack of note, Megan Rapinoe drilling in a low corner towards the penalty spot where Lloyd, having timed her run perfectly across Azusa Iwashimizu, diverted the ball home to score for the fourth game in succession.
And it was clearly a tactical plan as two minutes later, Holiday sent in a low free-kick which bobbled off defenders on the six-yard line for Lloyd to poke in.
It was 3-0 inside the first quarter-hour as the shell-shocked Iwashimizu, having lost Lloyd at both set-pieces, misjudged a clearance horribly and Holiday finished with a fine volley.
But that classy finish went all but unnoticed as just over a minute later, Lloyd let fly from 60 yards and keeper Ayumi Kaihori back-pedalled, stumbled and could only touch the ball onto the inside of the post before it nestled in the net.
Improbably, it almost got even better for Lloyd moments later as she headed Meghan Klingenberg's cross just wide, before Mizuho Sakaguchi finally had Japan's first effort on goal.
They at least managed to pull a goal back, Nahomi Kawasumi crossing from the right to Ogimi, who turned Johnston superbly and finished inside the far post.
They went close to a second when Shinobu Ohno pulled the ball back but Aya Miyama could not beat Hope Solo from the edge of the box.
Japan coach Norio Sasaki put Iwashimizu out of her misery in the 33rd minute as Homare Sawa came on to win the 205th cap of her illustrious career - and made a second change before the interval, bringing on Yuika Sugasawa for Kawasumi.
Kaihori did well to take Rapinoe's corner with Lloyd again closing in and limit the damage to 4-1 at half-time.
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The Americans took the lead with the first attack of note, Megan Rapinoe drilling in a low corner towards the penalty spot where Lloyd, having timed her run perfectly across Azusa Iwashimizu, diverted the ball home to score for the fourth game in succession.
And it was clearly a tactical plan as two minutes later, Holiday sent in a low free-kick which bobbled off defenders on the six-yard line for Lloyd to poke in.
It was 3-0 inside the first quarter-hour as the shell-shocked Iwashimizu, having lost Lloyd at both set-pieces, misjudged a clearance horribly and Holiday finished with a fine volley.
But that classy finish went all but unnoticed as just over a minute later, Lloyd let fly from 60 yards and keeper Ayumi Kaihori back-pedalled, stumbled and could only touch the ball onto the inside of the post before it nestled in the net.
Improbably, it almost got even better for Lloyd moments later as she headed Meghan Klingenberg's cross just wide, before Mizuho Sakaguchi finally had Japan's first effort on goal.
They at least managed to pull a goal back, Nahomi Kawasumi crossing from the right to Ogimi, who turned Johnston superbly and finished inside the far post.
They went close to a second when Shinobu Ohno pulled the ball back but Aya Miyama could not beat Hope Solo from the edge of the box.
Japan coach Norio Sasaki put Iwashimizu out of her misery in the 33rd minute as Homare Sawa came on to win the 205th cap of her illustrious career - and made a second change before the interval, bringing on Yuika Sugasawa for Kawasumi.
Kaihori did well to take Rapinoe's corner with Lloyd again closing in and limit the damage to 4-1 at half-time.
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Midfielder Lloyd netted the opener within three minutes for the USA past Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori
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Lloyd celebrates her early goal that gave the USA the lead against Japan at the BC Place Stadium
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The US celebrate their superb early start in the World Cup final against Japan
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Lloyd then struck after five minutes to take away her second of the game in Vancouver
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Lauren Holiday (centre) celebrates with team-mate Lloyd (right) after netting a third for the USA after just 14 minutes
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USA fans in the stands at the BC Place Stadium celebrate as their side get off to an incredible start
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Lloyd struck a belter from just inside the halfway line to give USA a 4-0 lead
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Japanese goalkeeper Kaihori lies on the floor helpless after being beaten by USA's Lloyd from 50 yards
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An ecstatic-looking Lloyd celebrates after netting her third and USA's fourth from the halfway line after just 16 minutes
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Japan forward Yuki Ogimi then gave them some hope by pulling one back just before the half-hour mark
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Ogimi clenches her first in celebration after getting the score back to 4-1 at the BC Place Stadium
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Lloyd's mishit cross just cleared the crossbar and Kaihori tipped Morgan Brian's 25-yard drive over - but Japan had hope seven minutes after the interval when Aya Miyama's free-kick from a deep position glanced off the head of Johnston, wrong-footing keeper Hope Solo for an unfortunate own goal.
It was quickly snuffed out, though, as another Rapinoe corner was not dealt with and Brian set up Heath to finish from six yards.
Mana Iwabuchi replaced Ohno in Japan's final substitution on the hour before Kelley O'Hara, a scorer in USA's semi-final win over Germany, replaced Rapinoe.
Japan's Rumi Utsugi went close with a long-range volley before Alex Morgan shot just wide at the other end.
Iwabuchi's loose touch allowed Johnston to get a challenge in, and the same attacker then saw a header comfortably saved.
There were farewell World Cup appearances for veteran US stars Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone before American celebrations rang around BC Place at the final whistle.
Lloyd was named as player of the tournament ahead of France's Amandine Henry, with Miyama third on a shortlist of eight which featured England's Lucy Bronze.
Solo took the Golden Gloves as best goalkeeper, Lloyd collected the silver ball as runner-up to top scorer Celia Sasic of Germany while Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan was the young player of the tournament.
In FIFA president Sepp Blatter's absence the global governing body was represented at the presentation ceremony by Cameroonian delegate Issa Hayatou.
The States formed a guard of honour for their opponents to collect their medals before squad captain Rampone, after her 308th and last international appearance, donned the armband to lift the trophy alongside Wambach.
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It was quickly snuffed out, though, as another Rapinoe corner was not dealt with and Brian set up Heath to finish from six yards.
Mana Iwabuchi replaced Ohno in Japan's final substitution on the hour before Kelley O'Hara, a scorer in USA's semi-final win over Germany, replaced Rapinoe.
Japan's Rumi Utsugi went close with a long-range volley before Alex Morgan shot just wide at the other end.
Iwabuchi's loose touch allowed Johnston to get a challenge in, and the same attacker then saw a header comfortably saved.
There were farewell World Cup appearances for veteran US stars Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone before American celebrations rang around BC Place at the final whistle.
Lloyd was named as player of the tournament ahead of France's Amandine Henry, with Miyama third on a shortlist of eight which featured England's Lucy Bronze.
Solo took the Golden Gloves as best goalkeeper, Lloyd collected the silver ball as runner-up to top scorer Celia Sasic of Germany while Canada defender Kadeisha Buchanan was the young player of the tournament.
In FIFA president Sepp Blatter's absence the global governing body was represented at the presentation ceremony by Cameroonian delegate Issa Hayatou.
The States formed a guard of honour for their opponents to collect their medals before squad captain Rampone, after her 308th and last international appearance, donned the armband to lift the trophy alongside Wambach.
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Megan Rapinoe (left) of the United States battles for possession with Japan's Homare Sawa
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Julie Johnston (centre) of the USA headed past her own keeper as Japan cut the USA's lead to two goals
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Goalkeeper Hope Solo could do nothing to prevent the ball from crossing the line to make it 4-2
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Tobin Heath (front left) then slotted home just two minutes later to make it 5-2 after 54 minutes
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Heath (front) celebrates after netting to restore her side's three-goal advantage over Japan in the final
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A general view of the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver filled to capacity during the Women's World Cup Final
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[h=3]MATCH FACTS[/h]USA: Solo, Krieger, Johnston, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg, Heath (Wambach 79'), Holiday, Brian, Rapinoe (O'Hara 61'), Morgan (Rampone 86'), Lloyd
Subs not used: Harris, Leroux, Engen, Boxx, Rodriguez, O'Reilly, Chalupny, Naeher
Goals: Lloyd 3' 5' 16' Holiday 14' Heath 54'
Japan: Kaihori, Ariyoshi, Iwashimizu (Sawa 33'), Kumagai, Sameshima, Kawasumi (Sugasawa 39'), Sakaguchi, Utsugi, Miyama, Ohno (Iwabuchi 60'), Ogimi
Subs not used: Fukumoto, Kinga, Kamionobe, Tanaka, Kawamura, Nagasato, Kitahara, Yamane
Booked: Sawa, Iwabuchi
Goals: Ogimi 27' Johnston (o.g.) 52'
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
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Subs not used: Harris, Leroux, Engen, Boxx, Rodriguez, O'Reilly, Chalupny, Naeher
Goals: Lloyd 3' 5' 16' Holiday 14' Heath 54'
Japan: Kaihori, Ariyoshi, Iwashimizu (Sawa 33'), Kumagai, Sameshima, Kawasumi (Sugasawa 39'), Sakaguchi, Utsugi, Miyama, Ohno (Iwabuchi 60'), Ogimi
Subs not used: Fukumoto, Kinga, Kamionobe, Tanaka, Kawamura, Nagasato, Kitahara, Yamane
Booked: Sawa, Iwabuchi
Goals: Ogimi 27' Johnston (o.g.) 52'
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
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Michelle Obama posted a personal message to the team after the final whistle blew and the US squad made history
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Proud: President Obama led celebrations with this tweet to the squad after their win on Sunday night
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Astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted a picture of a Star Spangled Banner in celebration of the champions
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Crowds burst into chants of 'USA! USA! USA!' when the final whistle blew
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Fans watching on an outdoor screen from the National Harbor, MD, celebrate after the United States' scored their first goal against Japan
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USA fans in the stands at the BC Place Stadium celebrate as their side get off to an incredible start
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Support from Queen Bey: Beyonce posted a picture on Instagram of her personalized Team USA women's soccer strip
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Fergie also showed her support with this revealing picture, saying: 'CONGRATS TEAM USE on winning the WOMEN'S WORLD CUP!'
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