USA Dethrones Japan To Clinch 2015 Women’s World Cup Title
The United States Women’s National Team decisively won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Canada to get their third title in the history of the competition. Team USA avenged their disappointing loss against Japan after scoring four goals in 16 minutes to beat the Japanese 5-2 in a rematch of their 2011 championship game.
US team captain Carli Lloyd was once again the superstar of the match. After propelling her team over top-ranked Germany, the 32-year-old veteran continued her brilliant performance to overpower the defending champs and help USA win its first title since 1999. The Houston Dash midfielder completed a remarkably impressive hat-trick within 16 minutes of the opening period.
Jill Ellis’ squad started to attack the goal as early as their first possession and in just three minutes into the first half, Lloyd channeled her inner Ronaldo and Messi to open the scoring. She netted another goal in the 5th minute mark after the ball bounced off a Japanese defender giving Lloyd the chance to pocket in a nice kick.
USA dominated the game outscoring Coach Norio Sasaki’s squad 4-1 in halftime. It was highlighted by Lloyd’s hat-trick completion after firing a kick from the halfway line when she noticed Japan’s goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori advanced too far from her net. The ball soared past the fingertips of a helpless Kaihori who was oftenly tested by USA’s attacks. The Americans were doubted to reach the final round after a sluggish offence in the start of the tournament but their tactical plays clicked just in time to defeat Japan.
“There was this feeling – we just knew. I just [knew] that the players could deliver. I told them in the semi-final game that these players are born for big moments; this is what they relish. It doesn’t surprise me that as the games got harder, this team gets better,” Ellis said via the Guardian.
Japan’s sloppy defence in the opening moments caused them pressure to defend their crown. The Japanese found their spirit in the second period, but it was a little too late to replicate their winning ways four years ago when they forced a draw to defeat USA via penalty shootout. However, the rematch was too far to be decided by penalty kicks.
This was not the first time Lloyd punished the Japanese in the world stage. In the 2012 London Olympics, USA won the gold medal after Lloyd scored twice to beat Japan 2-1. Sasaki, who felt his team should have been more assertive and active in seeking goals, still remembers how Lloyd always gets the most out of the Japanese team in their last two meetings.
“She always does this to us. In London, she scored twice. Today, she scored three times. So, we’re embarrassed, but she’s an excellent player,” Sasaki said.
The Americans put themselves in the history books to be the only team to win three World Cup titles. USA won its first ever championship in 1991 and netted their second crown when they hosted the world-wide tournament in 1999.
