Woman’s World Cup

 

 
In what will go down as one of the most exciting women’s world cup finals ever, you had the USA facing Japan in the final. A little history for you; the USA has not won a world cup since that mighty 1999 team. It was also the last two times the U.S. face Japan, it was for the gold medal in the Olympics and then in 2011 world cup final in which the USA lost in heartbreak. 

The USA had a very difficult lead up to this game being placed in what was called the group of death. The USA won their group and then in return got to play China to move on, which they did easily. But then the USA had the hardest test playing the number 1 team, Germany. USA handled germany well and won the right to play Japan.

Japan had an easier road winning their group easily, which by all means was an easy group. The team got the right to play Australia and won, and then England, which they won easily.

With much anticipation the game started and the USA struck quickly. USA scored in the 3rd,5th,14th, and 16th minute with captain Carli Lloyd having a hat trick before 20 minutes into the game. This ended up setting a record for the fastest hat trick in women’s world cup history. Japan did strike back with a goal of their own in the 27th minute ending the first half 4-1 USA.

The second half started with two questions; when will Abby Wambach get in the game, and will the USA hold on for the win? The second half started with Japan pushing offense with Julie Johnston of the USA scoring an own goal in the 52nd minute. Making the game 4-2. Tobin Heath of the USA capitalized on a set piece and scored in the 54th minute for the USA, making the score 5-2. 

Wambach did come on the field, playing 15 minutes of what we know as her last game. When the final whistle blew, the USA won the women’s world cup and was crowned champions of the world.