Japan stunned USA in a come from behind victory in the Women's World Cup final with a 3-1 score Sunday night.

The Japanese squad held their own in a match that many predicted would be the Americans to lose, after all the Japanese had never defeated the Americans in 25 games. Once again the Japanese squad overcame such obstacles with their usual clinical and efficient play to take the title in penalty kicks 3-1. It becomes the first Asian country to win a World Cup title.

The usual determination and technical efficiency the Japanese showed through the tournament was in full force this Sunday as the Japanese team when up against the American squad that was hot on its first World Cup title in 12 years. And for the first half of the game it looked like the US would romp away with the trophy after it took the lead in the 69th minute with a goal from Alex Morgan. The Japanese squad wasn't fazed and settled in against the US blitz.

Aya Miyama tied the game with a loose ball goal against U.S. goalie Hope Solo. The game went into extra time with a U.S lead on an Abby Wambach header until five-time World Cup competitor and Japanese captain Homare Sawa tied the score at 2-2 and forced the game into penalty kicks.

From there the Japanese defense tightened against two U.S. bungled efforts in penalty kicks. It was a bitter defeat for the U.S. who had never missed a penalty kick in the tournament until the finals.

"This is obviously going to hurt for a while," said Abby Wambach, who is still chasing after that elusive World Cup title.

"They just kept coming at us, they fought," U.S. captain Christie Rampone said. "We tried to stay compact and in control, but you have to give them a lot of credit."

The win was obviously an important one for a team playing for a country devastated by the March earthquake and tsunami.

"Not one of the players gave up," Japanese coach Norio Sasaki said. "They wanted to win this game, and I think it is because of that the Americans only scored two goals. Yes, we were lucky during the penalty shootout, but my soccer god made it possible for us to win versus the U.S."

It is that resilience that pushed the Japanese team into victory Sunday night and earned the respect and admiration of the football world.