This matchup was the third straight time that these two nations have met in the final game of a major tournament, following matchups in the 2011 World Cup final and the 2012 Summer Olympics final. Japan won the last world cup while the U.S took gold in London.
The Japanese squad came in to the final hoping to win their second straight World cup while the U.S squad wants to win their third World cup and bring home the trophy for the first time since 1999 when Mia Hamm and Brianna Scurry led that team to the title at the Rose Bowl in LA. The U.S players also wanted to avenge a loss to Japan in the last World Cup final.
Throughout the group rounds and first 2 knockout rounds, goalie Hope Solo and the defense in front of her played exceptional while the offense struggled to generate any consistent attack, leading to demands that Jill Ellis change the formation of her squad on the field.
Jill Ellis listened to her critics by changing the formation. She took Abby Wambach out of the starting lineup therefore leaving Alex Morgan as the only true forward. Then in her most genius move of the World Cup, she moved Carli Lloyd up to attacking midfield. Jill also put Tobin Heath in as a wing midfielder and Morgan Brian as the holding midfielder.
This freed up Carli Lloyd to mainly focus on offense and she came through in a big way. The 32 year old midfielder from Jersey scored the only goal of the match against China, then scored the game winning goal against Germany on a PK after Germany's best player Sasic completely missed her pk attempt.
Then in the final against the Japanese who are the queens of Asian women's soccer, captain Carli Lloyd put together a spectacular performance carrying her team to a 5-2 victory and the Women's world cup 2015 trophy.
She put together a hattrick by the 16th minute against an extremely talented and well coached Japanese squad. Her first two goals were off of set pieces. The first one was off a corner kick from Rapinoe and she scored by charging in late, beating her defender, and volleying the ball into the back of the net.
The second goal was off a free kick from Holliday. Holliday kicked it in to Johnson in the box and Johnsen back-kicked it to Carli who knocked it past the Japanese goalkeeper.
These two goals were good, but her third goal was epic. Lloyd had the ball at midfield and the Japanese goalie was really far out of the goal because people don't normally take shots from midfield.
Lloyd bucked that trend, taking an audacious powerful shot from the center line. This booming kick sailed all the way to the goal and over the Japanese goalie's head. The poor Japanese Goalie got a hand on the ball, but unfortunately tapped it backwards and right into the open goal. The announcer called it one of the best goals she had ever seen in her life. (Kelly Smith)
Holliday and Heath added goals for the United States while the defense allowed two goals which isn't that good, but they did stifle a lot of Japanese scoring chances so that's good.
In the last ten minutes there were some touching moments as Wambach came on the turf and recieved the captain's band from Lloyd and then Rapinoe who somehow at 40 and still playing at a high level also came on the field.
Once the final whistle blew the U.S players exulted with joy knowing that they've just won the World Cup. It was especially sweet for Rampone who gets to start her career in 99 with a World Cup win and end it this year with a second World Cup title and Wambach, one of the greatest US women's soccer players ever, who finally gets her World Cup title in her last World Cup.
Carli Lloyd won the golden ball as the best player in the tournament and Hope Solo won the golden glove as the best goalie in the tournament. These awards were both well deserved as both of these women were phenomenal throughout the tournament.
I also applaud Jill Ellis and her assistant coaches for the job they did in their first World Cup.
This game got the highest rating ever and this World Cup raised Women's soccer in the U.S to a whole new level.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens with this roster before the olympics in Rio next year and I am looking forward to seeing if the U.S women's soccer team can continue their success at the summer Olympics next summer.
No comments:
Post a Comment