Carli Lloyd bagged a hat trick in just 16 minutes to help the United States become the first team to win three FIFA Women’s World Cup titles by smashing reigning champions Japan, 5-2 in Vancouver on Sunday.
Lloyd led the way with three goals while Lauren Holiday and Tobin Heath added goals for the Americans. A clever finish by Yuki Ogimi and an own goal by American defender Julie Johnston put the Japanese on the board in what was the highest scoring game in Women’s World Cup Final history.
Lloyd’s three-goal performance was the second hat trick in World Cup Final history for either gender as she joins England’s Geoff Hurst who needed 120 minutes to help the English defeat West Germany at the 1966 World Cup.
The 32-year-old Lloyd put the Americans on the board after just three minutes by making an brilliant run to blast a Megan Rapinoe corner kick into the back of the Japanese net for the fastest-ever goal in a Women’s World Cup Final. Lloyd added another just two minutes later when Johnston flicked an Ali Krieger free kick toward the midfielder for an easy tap-in.
Jill Ellis’ squad continued their onslaught in the 14th minute when a deflected clearance by Japanese defender Azusa Iwashimizu fell to Holiday who fired a vicious volley from 14 yards out to give the Americans their third.
New Jersey native Lloyd saved her finest finish for last. In the 16th minute the USWNT captain fired a chip from the midfield stripe that sailed over Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. With her three goals, Lloyd joins Carin Jennings and Michelle Akers as the only American players to score a hat trick at a Women’s World Cup.
Japan finally got on the board in the 27th minute when Ogimi delivered a beautiful curling finish past American ‘keeper Hope Solo. The goal halted the Americans’ shutout streak at 539 minutes, just six seconds shy of a new Women’s World Cup record.
At the start of the second half, the USWNT kept their foot on the gas as they continued to throw numbers forward against a Japan squad desperate to claw their way back in the game. The Japanese notched their second in the 52nd minute when a free kick took a deflection of Johnston and bounced past Solo.
The USWNT crushed all hope of a Japanese comeback just two minutes later when Morgan Brian delivered a pinpoint pass to Heath who smashed it into the back of the net to seal the World Cup win.
The Americans also took home a considerable amount of tournament silverware as Lloyd was awarded the tournament’s Golden Ball winner for Most Valuable Player. Lloyd also picked up the World Cup silver boot award with six goals finishing just behind Germany’s Célia Šašić on a tiebreaker. Additionally, Solo was named the tournament’s Golden Glove as the tournament’s top goalkeeper.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.