Carli Lloyd scored an incredible 13-minute hat-trick as the United States thrashed Japan to win their third Women’s World Cup title.
In a repeat of the 2011 final, which Japan won on penalties the Nadeshiko could not live with their stronger and quicker opponents, who went 4-0 up when Lloyd scored an astonishing third from the halfway line.
Women’s World Cup 2015: Incredible halfway line goal for USA’s Carli Lloyd
The American midfielder put the 1991 and 1999 champions two goals up within five minutes in a stunning start to the match.
Lauren Holiday volleyed in after Azusa Iwashimizu’s woeful header and Lloyd then caused pandemonium among the huge contingent of US supporters inside BC Place when she lobbed Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori.
The 2011 winners retaliated thanks to a Yuki Ogimi strike and a Julie Johnston own goal, but Tobin Heath made it 5-2 before 60 minutes had elapsed and despite further pressure, English coach Jill Ellis’s USA side held on.
The majority of the 53,341 fans inside BC Place erupted in joyous celebration at the final whistle before Confederation of African football (Caf) president Issa Hayatou, standing in at the final for Fifa president Sepp Blatter, presented the World Cup trophy to former captain Christie Rampone and veteran striker Abby Wambach.
Women’s World Cup Catch-Up: Carli Lloyd puts USA top of the world!
Chants of “U-S-A” reverberated around the ground when they lifted trophy.
The pulsating finale to an entertaining tournament was the highest-scoring final in the tournament’s history, and matched the highest scoring men’s final, when Brazil defeated Sweden by the same scoreline in 1958.
Japan, who made it to the final after beating England courtesy of Laura Bassett’s own goal, were outclassed from the start and could not cope with the USA’s set-pieces.
But they also suffered from a familiar foe as Lloyd added to the two goals she scored against Japan in the 2012 Olympics between the two teams.
Women’s World Cup 2015: USA’s Carli Lloyd scores two in three minutes
Her third-minute opener was the quickest goal in a Women’s World Cup final as she latched onto Megan Rapinoe’s perfectly directed corner. The 32-year-old added another after Japan failed to clear a free-kick.
It got worse for Norio Sasaki’s side when Iwashimizu gifted Holiday a goal when her clearance header merely looped up in the air and the USA midfielder took advantage.
Lloyd’s wonder goal, which completed a first Women’s World Cup final hat-trick and made her the tournament’s joint top scorer along with Germany’s Celia Sasic, appeared to have ended the game as a contest.
Such was the manner of Iwashimizu’s display that the Japan defender she was withdrawn after 33 minutes to be replaced by former captain Homare Sawa, who was competing in her sixth World Cup.
A Women’s World Cup final of firsts |
|---|
| USA’s 40-year-old defender Christie Rampone is tournament’s oldest ever player |
| Seven-goal thriller the highest scoring final in Women’s World Cup history |
| Carli Lloyd’s 13-minute hat-trick the first in a Women’s World Cup final |
Although former Chelsea forward Ogimi turned and fired in before the break and Johnston’s second-half own goal gave Japan hope, Heath took advantage from more poor Japanese defending to score the USA’s fifth.
Japan were determined not to give up as substitute Mana Iwabuchi caused problems for the US defence. But they could find no way past a resolute US side, who became the first team to win the Women’s World Cup for a third time.
It was a World Cup that kicked off amidst one of the biggest scandals in football history ended in joyous celebration on Sunday as the United States defeated Japan in a free-wheeling clash that offered some hope of better days ahead for the so-called Beautiful Game.
The troubles that have rocked the sport’s governing body FIFA for more than a month seemed a world away as golden confetti rained down on a capacity crowd of over 53,000 at BC Place following an entertaining contest that showcased the good in a sport some had started to believe was rotten to the core.
The Americans last triumphed in 1999 but women’s football is a vastly different game
than it was a decade-and-a-half ago with new nations forging their way into the elite and triggering unprecedented global interest in the tournament.
Despite corruption scandals swirling around FIFA and a lawsuit filed by leading players against organisers for being forced to play on artificial turf, the tournament ended in triumphant fashion, smashing worldwide television ratings and attracting an eye-popping total attendance of 1.35 million spectators.
Since the World Cup began on June 6 in Edmonton, the tournament had been waiting for the arrival of a star and on the final game she finally arrived, American captain Carli Lloyd grabbing the spotlight with an stunning three-goal masterclass that laid the foundation for the U.S. victory.
As Golden Ball winner Lloyd demonstrated with her astonishing 13 minute hat-trick, that included a goal from the half-way line, the women’s game is delivering a level of excitement and quality beyond previous standards.
“We always say that every women’s World Cup is special and another milestone in the development of women’s football and I truly believe that this seventh edition of FIFA women’s World Cup Canada has made history in many ways,” said Tatjana Haenni, the FIFA deputy director of the competitions division and head of women’s football.
Certainly, the U.S. made history by becoming the first nation to win three World Cups while Lloyd
As the crowd, that included U.S. vice-president Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stood and cheered, all seemed right in the football world.
But there was a stark reminder of more possible turbulence ahead as loud boos echoed through the stadium when it was announced FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou would present the trophy.
Normally that task falls to embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter but he opted not to come following corruption investigations by U.S. and Swiss authorities which include scrutiny of how FIFA awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 men’s tournaments.
Blatter has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but has retained an attorney and while he was absent from Sunday’s final, like the rest of the football world, his attention was diverted back to the events on the pitch.
Reuters and BBC
