Lloyd-inspired USA crowned in style

[Omaha Steve]

Source: FIFA

USA ended their 16-year FIFA Women’s World Cup™ drought in the most emphatic manner imaginable with a Carli Lloyd hat-trick lifting the Stars and Stripes past holders Japan for their third title.

A scarcely believable four-goal salvo inside the opening 16 minutes meant there was only ever going to be one winner to the joy of the largely pro-USA 53,341 crowd in Vancouver.

USA were quickest to the ball from the opening whistle and immediately reaped greater rewards than they could ever have imagined. A low driven Megan Rapinoe corner from the right deceived a flat-footed Japan defence and Lloyd finished first time from near the penalty spot to put a perfect flourish to a training ground move.

Barely 150 seconds had passed on the stadium clock but, incredibly it was about to get even better for the Stars and Stripes. A low free-kick from Lauren Holiday evaded a swathe of players before the ball found its way, almost magnetically, to Lloyd who applied the finishing touch from close range. USA were 2-0 up inside five minutes and Lloyd had nabbed the two fastest goals in Women’s World Cup Final history.

FULL story at link.



© Getty Images

Read more: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/matches/round=268012/match=300269506/match-report.html

[Siwsan]

1. I don't even understand the game, but it was exciting to watch

[rdking647]

2. womens soccer now officially a sport

mens still not a sport

[3catwoman3]

13. In a different celebratory thread, I posted my feeling...

...that it is time for the two planet-wide soccer tournaments be called the Men's World Cup and the Women's World Cup - not THE World Cup when the men are competing.

[C Moon]

3. Awesome!

[femmocrat]

4. USA! USA!

[KeepItReal]

5. Highest scoring Women's World Cup Final

Terrific game!

[shenmue]

6. Yay!

Thank you, U.S. Women's National Team! We are very proud of you!

Also congratulations to the other teams for playing a good tournament.

[LiberalFighter]

7. I caught it when they were doing the awards.

Thought it was the intro to the game and was confused by the awards they were presenting. Looked at the uniforms but didn't see any grass stains or other indication of competition. I guess they wouldn't if the field is artificial.

Finally came here to see if there was any report on the game.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. We had the "99ers". . . Now it's the "15ers".

What a tournament for Team USA.

And the best part was. . .no Sepp "Bloated" Blatter to stink up the place.

[iandhr]

9. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssss

[7962]

10. Way to go, ladies! Congrats on a wonderful World Cup. World Champions!! nt

[erpowers]

11. Congratulatins to the US Women's Soccer Team

They played a great tournament. Especially Carli Lloyd. I thought they would win the tournament and I am glad they did win it.

[SunSeeker]

12. K & R

[SoapBox]

14. Congratulations Team USA!

Bravo!

Sixteen years is a long dry run.

Woo-Hoo!

[-Bernie-]

17. Yikes.. I had thought back of the last star of the American's last win in 1999

And I realized it was Mia Hamm who also attended the final.

16 years is a long time between Cups.. and it's showing my age!

[pinto]

15. +1

[libdem4life]

16. Great job, ladies!!

They kept talking about a hat trick...what is that? Anyone?

[-Bernie-]

18. A hat trick is when a player scores 3 goals in one game.

Typically used in hockey or soccer.

Carli Lloyd has two records to her credit related with that

1) Fastest hat trick in World Cup history (16') - that won't be broken for a very long time....
2) First hat trick in Women's World Cup finals.

[libdem4life]

21. OMG...what a victory, plus the other records. What a lady. And she let the other two do the

trophy lift. It was amazing. Go USA!!

[cascadiance]

22. She had two other headers on goal a little later that could have gone in too in the first half...

If one or both of those had gone in, she very well have could have put her name on the map forever.

[nevergiveup]

19. That was so much fun to watch!

Congratulations to the U.S.A. women! You did us proud!

[yallerdawg]

20. Congratulations, USA Women's Team!

Well done!

The men now have a role model (again).