Call it revenge, call it redemption, you could call it any number of things, but there is one word most people would agree on; inspiring. The USWNT defeated Japan 5-2 in the final of the 2015 Women’s World Cup to become the first nation to capture three titles in the competition.
The USWNT didn’t get here without its share of struggles. They didn’t always have the best lineup, the best formation or play the best soccer, but none of that matters in the long run. They came together, put the work in and got the job done when it mattered most, and in incredible fashion too.
You would be hard pressed to find someone who predicted the final would play out as it did. The strong majority of people expected a closely fought battle, predicting a one goal match; some even suggesting the winner would be found in extra time or penalties. Instead, the US came out and all but sealed the deal within the first 16 minutes of the match.
From the opening whistle, the US put their foot on the gas and completely dominated Japan’s midfield and defense. They pressured, and pressured hard and were rewarded with a goal a mere three minutes into the match. Megan Rapinoe sent in a low, skipping corner right at at the spot. The ball found Carli Lloyd who had managed to remain undetected as she made a run from well outside the box, picked up the ball in between two defenders and put it away to give the US the lead in just the 3rd minute.
That was only the beginning for Lloyd who picked up her second goal less than two minutes later. Lauren Holiday took a free kick that Julie Johnston attempted to back heel towards the goal. The ball deflected of a Japan player and wound up at the feet of Lloyd, who again was poorly defended and able to net her second goal in five minutes of play.
Holiday would get in on the action as well in the 14th minute when defender Azusa Iwashimizu had a tough time handling a long ball sent into the box. Instead of clearing out, the ball popped straight up, allowing Holiday to track it in the air and hit a beautiful volley over the head of goalkeeper Ayumi Khaihori to make it 3-0.
As if US fans around the country weren’t shocked and excited enough already, Lloyd completed her hat trick in the 16th minute in jaw dropping fashion. After collecting the ball on her own end, Lloyd took the ball mid field before catching Kaihori well off her line and sending a hard lob, from just past the center line over the goalkeeper’s head. Kaihori attempted the backpedal and was able to get her fingertips on the ball, but it was not enough to stop it from finding the back of the net, putting the US up 4-0.
Though the US was relentless in their attack in the early stages, they appeared to lay off the gas a bit after the fourth goal, something that the ever present Japan team took advantage of. They worked to create more chances which paid off in the 27th minute. Nahomi Kawasumi got the ball on the right flank and made a quick cut inside before sending the ball toward Yuki Ogimi in the box. Ogimi was able to turn away from her defender, who went down trying to intercept the ball, and took a quick, clean shot out of the reach of Hope Solo, making it 4-1.
In an effort to bolster his team’s attack, head coach Norio Sasaki made two changes inside the 40th minute. Veteran midfielder and 2011 WWC hero Homare Sawa came on for the struggling Iwashimizu, while forward Yuika Sugasawa replaced Kawasumi. Neither change had an immediate on the score line as it remained the same at the half.
Japan was able to get another one back early in the second half as they were able to capitalize on a strong set piece and cause an own goal in the 52nd minute. Japan took a free kick that was long, but accurate as it sailed in toward several players right in front of the goal. Johnston went up to challenge for the ball, but it just skipped off her head toward the back post. Solo, who was clearly not expecting the ball to go the way it did, was unable to keep it out of the net.
The US attack, which had been solid, though no where near as dominating as the first half, seemed re-energized having their lead cut to two and quickly struck again in the 54th minute. A corner kick from Holiday was missed by both Alex Morgan and Kaihori but found Morgan Brian who calmly slid it over to Tobin Heath and watched as she put it in the back of the net, widening the US margin once more.
Credit to Japan who, after an extremely rough 16 minutes early in the game, fought hard, never gave up, and tried their best to keep themselves in the match. Despite the solid effort on their part, those four early goals were too much to overcome and after 16 years, the USWNT were World Cup Champions again.
Throughout the tournament, the US put together many full team performances where there was not just one or two people who helped get results, but the whole team. While this was true for the final as well, credit has to be given to Carli Lloyd for putting in one of the most solid performances ever in a WWC final.
Having had some shaky matches in the group stages, Lloyd came out in the knockout rounds and played the best soccer of her career, and the final was no different. In addition to helping her team secure their long awaited third WWC title, she created history and several records in the process. To name a few: Lloyd’s hat trick was the first by any player in a WWC final, first US player since Michelle Akers in 1991 to score multiple goals in a WWC final, first American to score in four straight WWC matches and the fastest goal ever in a WWC final (3rd minute).
While there are some questions to be answered about the future of the USWNT such as who will retire now, who will play in the Olympics in 2016, what will future rosters and formations look like; the 23 players, coaches and fans (and people in general) across the nation can celebrate, take it all in and be inspired by the performances put on in the last month that was the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
That, and there’s also the remainder of the NWSL season and a 10 stop victory tour to embark on.
