Women's World Cup: US Defeats Japan 5-2 as Cari Lloyd Scores 3

The United States defeated Japan 5-2 for the Women's World Cup title on Sunday as midfielder Carli Lloyd pulled off a rare three-goal hat trick – all in the game's first 16 minutes.

The win in Vancouver's BC Place helped the U.S. club avenge a loss to Japan in the Women's World Cup on penalty kicks four years ago. It was the Americans' first World Cup title since 1999 and the third overall, according to FIFA.



Lloyd won the tournament's Golden Ball award after scoring twice in the match's first five minutes and then gave the U.S. a seemingly insurmountable lead with her third goal at the 16-minute mark. Her final goal proved to be the game winner.

"It's a little surreal moment," Lloyd said after the victory, according to the Los Angeles Times. "It's been amazing. We just wrote history today and brought this World Cup trophy home."

ESPN's Graham Hays praised Lloyd's play particularly in the knock-out round where she scored all of her six goals.

"But her presence pushing forward in the final four games, driving at defenses and pulling them out of shape made the chances," wrote Hays. "Of course the goals, Sunday's haul included, mattered, but she was so much more than just the goals."

The Times pointed out that Lloyd has a knack of scoring against Japan, scoring twice in the 2012 Summer Olympic's gold medal game against the Japanese, which the U.S. also won.

"She always does this to us," said Japan's coach Norio Sasaki. "We are a little embarrassed. But she is an excellent player."

The team entered the World Cup answering questions about goalie Hope Solo's involvement in a domestic violence incident a year ago, according to ESPN. On Sunday, FIFA gave Solo the tournament's Golden Glove award as the World Cup's top goalie, per FIFA. She allowed just three goals in seven World Cup matches.

USA Today's Mike Foss said while the U.S. team came in as underdogs, it managed to put its own stamp in the tournament.

"This was a gritty, dysfunctional, and imperfect team," wrote Foss. "It was their adversity that ultimately brought this team together. It shouldn't have ended this way, and for most teams it wouldn’t. That's what has made 2015 so unique and this team's story so remarkable."



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