“Heck yeah! I’ll take this one any day”. Later, after team leader Abby Wambach entered her final World Cup game, Lloyd made the unusual gesture of removing her blue captain’s armband and giving it to Wambach.
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And just two minutes later Lloyd completed her hattrick with a stunning shot from the half-way over the head of a stunned Ayumi Kaihori in the Japan goal.
Lloyd became just the second American to win the Golden Ball, after Carin Jennings-Gabarra in 1991.
Two minutes later the Japanese defense was in meltdown when Lloyd again found her way through following a freekick.
In between sprints on an empty practice field, she envisioned scoring four goals in the final.
Lauren Holiday made the best of Japanese defender Azusa Iwashimizu’s error to deal with a Tobin Heath cross in 14 minute, partially giving the U.S. fans rights to celebrate.
Sawa, who once before has retired from the national team, has said that she plans to retire for good following the World Cup.
“Overall, I think this team is wonderful, and they’ve worked so hard to get here”, said appropriately named superfan Ashley Kick, 35, of Manhattan, over deafening cheers at Nevada Smith’s Bar on Third Ave. near Union Square. Wambach was among the most vocal opponents of FIFA’s decision to play the tournament on artificial turf.
Lloyd’s attacking flair and rare creativity lit a fire in the USA offense.
The USA coach has relied on her father’s advice at the Women’s World Cup. We all stayed the course. “We had a game plan”.
Carli Lloyd was sensational once again and was rewarded the Golden Ball award for best player in the tournament. Lloyd looked downfield and chose to let fly. Solo, in training camp at the time, was also in the van. The most goals scored by teams in the Final are two.
“These players were born for the big moments”, she added. She’s the second American to claim the award after Carin Jennings at the 1991 edition. This played a big role in set pieces because the Japanese strategy was clearly to sell out on ensuring that the Americans, who are talented in the air, wouldn’t be able to score off headers.
Another low ball into the box did the damage, this time from a Lauren Holiday free-kick which the Japan defence failed to clear and the ball fell to Lloyd, who gleefully slotted home.
Ogimi’s goal was the first Solo had allowed after five straight shutouts. But step by step throughout the tournament, the Americans came together.
The seven combined goals are the most ever in a Women’s World Cup final.
Jill Biden led the delegation to the final in 2011 in Germany which the USA lost to Japan, but her husband was absent from that trip. It was a dream start for the Americans, and a nightmare for Japan.
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The US’s all-time record against Japan now sits at 25-1-16. Oddly enough, the goals that bookended the streak both came in the 27th minute – one in Team USA’s first game against Australia, the other in the 27th minute versus Japan in the final. It hasn’t sunk in. “It just happens. I feel like I blacked out for the first 30 minutes or so”.
