PHOTO: USA’s Carli Lloyd holds her gold medal following the team’s win over Japan at the Women’s World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 5, 2015.
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“I just completely zoned out”, Lloyd said.
“I was on a mission to help this team, I just worked my butt off. Collectively, so brilliant, so brilliant, so proud”. In her postmatch interview Sunday, Lloyd thanked him and the other members of her family for their support.
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. Previously, Lloyd had scored the winning goals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. ” “Now it’s up to us to keep the tradition going, and in four years” time we want to be world champions again”. Wambach accepted a lesser role as the tournament progressed and Lloyd became more assertive and productive. But Hope Solo reasserted herself in this tournament as perhaps the world’s best goalkeeper, despite a lingering domestic abuse scandal. She played despite critics who urged the US Soccer Federation to drop her after she initially faced two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence from a June 2014 altercation at her half-sister’s house, charges that were dismissed earlier this year. And they put the finishing touches on their third World Cup title with a whirlwind 16-minute stretch that will be remembered for as long as people still play and talk about soccer.
The 32-year-old picked up Megan Rapinoe’s low cross from the right to tap in after three minutes. Kaihori tried to get a hand on the ball, unfortunately tipping it into her own goal as she was back-peddling, per FIFA’s official website. “She’s unbelievable. She’s a rock star”.
Lloyd scored the two fastest goals in Women’s World Cup history, scoring twice in the first six minutes of the match.
Lloyd joined England hero Geoff Hurst (1966) as the only players to net trebles in World Cup finals.
Lloyd did not always listen to what she was told, Sundhage said, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. The second goal came minutes later, off a deflection on a free kick. “But she is an excellent player, and I really respect her and admire her”.
Lloyd became just the second American to win the Golden Ball, following Carin Jennings-Gabarra in 1991.
Kaihori could only punch a corner to the back post and Morgan Brian cutback for Heath to strike and seal the win and the title.
Ogimi’s goal in was the first Solo had allowed after five-straight shutouts. The first three goals from the US were all scored deep inside the 18-yard box.
A World Cup that kicked off amidst one of the biggest scandals in football history ended in joyous celebration today as the United States defeated Japan 5-2 in a free-wheeling clash that offered some hope of better days ahead for the so-called lovely Game.
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Japan coach Norio Sasaki brought on experienced midfielder Homare Sawa, the heroine of Japan’s 2011 campaign, after 33 minutes in place of tearful Iwashimizu who had to be comforted on the bench.
