The United States emerged as champions during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, beating Japan 5-2 in the final game on July 5.
Carli Lloyd, a mid-fielder who was voted the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament, managed to score three goals in the final, the first hat trick ever accomplished in a Women’s World Cup final. This championship game was a chance for the U.S. team, as they played Japan in the 2011 World Cup Final when Japan came out on top, winning in a penalty kick shoot-out.
The U.S. women’s team came out strong, scoring four goals in the first 16 minutes of play. Lloyd’s first two goals were scored within the first five minutes of the game. “I was just on a mission,” Lloyd said. “I was on a mission to help my team win this game.”
Her final goal was kicked from midfield and bounced off the hand of the Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori to bring the United States to a 4-0 lead.
“Really I’m disappointed having four points lost in the first 20 minutes,” said Masaki Sato, a student from Japan who recently graduated from BYU–Hawaii with a degree in accounting. “But I also was really glad that they didn’t give up. They kept going.”
Sato also shared the team could benefit from playing more international games.
The U.S. team had gone five matches and 540 straight minutes without conceding a goal, reported the Associated Press, until Yuki Ogimi succeeded in scoring in the 27th minute and the ball glanced off U.S. player Julie Johnston’s head into the U.S. net in the 52nd minute.
“It was really impressive,” said Devin Masse, a freshman from Oregon majoring in business management. He shared how amusing it was to see the rematch between the United States and Japan from 4 years ago.
Japan returned this time around with 8 starters from that final and the US came back with only 4 starters who played the same game, reported the Associated Press. The game sold out to a crowd of over 53,000 in British Columbia where the tournament was being held, and included several U.S. spectators, including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, according to the Associated Press.
“I think it’s becoming more popular,” said Masse. He commented on how soccer has not been as well-liked in the United States, but is slowly gaining ground. “I feel like when we were kids, soccer players were really looked down upon. And that’s really dumb. If people want to play soccer, they should.” He also shared that he wished he had played more when he was younger.
“After we lost the final,” said Sato, “a few members of the girl’s team suggested that they want to have more games, more international matches so they can do better for big matches.”
He expressed how bigger soccer teams, like Brazil and Spain, have a stronger professional mindset than Japan. “I always thought the U.S. was the best girl’s soccer team, to be honest,” he said. “They played beautifully, they won beautifully, and they are beautiful.”
This was the third World Cup victory for the United States and sets the record for the most Women’s World Cup titles since it’s inaugural tournament in 1991, reported the Associated Press.