The US Women's National team defeated the former reigning World Champions Japan 5-2 Sunday in a game full of goals and passion to lift the Women's World cup which it hadn't done since 1999.
Carli Lloyd scored a Hat-trick just 16 minutes into the game which is the first ever in Women's World Cup Final history, and just the second in World Cup Final history.
"I call her my beast," USWNT coach Jill Ellis said of Lloyd. "She's unbelievable, a rock star."
The game however shattered the record for the highest-scoring Women's World Cup final of all time, as well. The seven goals in the match broke the previous high of four, set between these two sides in 2011.
"Pure elation and I'm just so proud of them, and so happy for every American girl who dreams about this," U.S. coach Jill Ellis said after the victory.
Well the goals started ringing in as early as the 3rd minute 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 as 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 U.S. goal.
"I was just on a mission to help my team win this game," Lloyd said. "Personally I have worked my butt off, and all the repetitions came into play."
Next up was Holiday, the centerback in the 14th minute was in the right place when Japan back Aya Sameshima poorly cleared a header, allowing the ball to fall right to a wide-open Lloyd. The former Tar Heel merely shoved the ball back past Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. By the time Lloyd added her third goal, the U.S. was up 4-0 and the packed house inside BC Place went from frenzied to shocked. Was it really already over?
Japan's opening goal came 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 was have to turn and fire off a rising shot that Solo tried to lay out and stop, but it blew off her fingers and in for the goal. 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 U.S. was not ready to let Japan creed back in, however. Two minutes later, Tobin Heath added the 5th U.S. goal on an assist inside the box from Morgan Brian.
No comments:
Post a Comment