Japan came from behind twice to win the women’s World Cup for the first time on Sunday, beating the United States 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 2-2 in extra-time.
Japan captain Homare Sawa, who won the tournament’s golden boot, kept her side in the game with a header in the 117th minute after US striker Abby Wambach’s had put her side ahead early in extra-time after the two sides were locked at 1-1 over 90 minutes.
The Japanese had defender Azusa Iwashimizu sent off in the 121st minute for a foul on US striker Alex Morgan.
In the dramatic shoot-out, Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori saved two penalties before defender Saki Kumagai hit the winning spot-kick.
The US had taken the lead in the second-half of normal time thanks to striker Alex Morgan’s sublime strike, but Japan’s Aya Miyama poached the equaliser after a mix-up in the American defence in the 81st minute.
This was Japan’s first win over the Americans at the 26th time of trying and was heartbreak for the Stars and Stripes as they missed out on a third World Cup title despite dominating Japan for large periods of the game.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrated her 57th birthday by joining the 48,817 sell-out crowd in Frankfurt, while Dr Jill Biden, wife of US vice-president Joe Biden, and Chelsea Clinton, daughter of US Secretary of State Hillary, were also in the stands.
Japan made it to final after their shock 1-0 defeat of Germany in the quarter-finals before they dominated Sweden 3-1 in the last four.
The USA followed up a dramatic 5-3 win on penalties over Brazil in the last eight before they beat France 3-1 in the semi-finals.
The USA controlled the opening 20 minutes of the final as left-wing Megan Rapinhoe and forward Lauren Cheney, who replaced striker Amy Rodriguez in the starting team, caused havoc, while Wambach hit the crossbar on 28 minutes.
Japan’s first real chance came with 30 minutes gone but midfielder Kozue Ando fired her shot straight at US goalkeeper Hope Solo.
The first-half finished goalless, but Cheney, with a heavily strapped ankle, was replaced at half-time by goal-scorer Morgan.
The USA kept up the pressure and Kaihori palmed Wambach’s header over the bar on 64 minutes.
The Americans’ pressure finally told when Rapinhoe’s long-range pass – which was half the length of the pitch – found Morgan who blasted her shot across Kaihori on 69 minutes.
Japan were gifted the equaliser on 81 minutes when US defenders Rachel Buehler and Krieger scrambled to clear the ball in their own goalmouth, but left-wing Miyama reacted fastest and stabbed the ball home.
In extra-time, Wambach headed the US back into the lead in the 104th minute.
But Sawa equalised from a corner in the 117th minute with her fifth goal of the tournament to take the game to penalties.
anthony mdhlongwa
Guest
a wonderfull day for japan coming from such a horrific tragedy.this should go a long way in bringing some form of joy to the japanese nation.well done ladies for your never say die spirit
Aware
Guest
Obviously, Australia could have beaten Japan and won the World Cup themselves. One has to wonder about the coaching strategies against Sweden when the Aussie defence had so many holes in it in the first half especially.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Wow ... what an amazing statistic and tangible evidence of how far the Women's WC has progressed and is now firmly entrenched into the psyche of sports fans around the globe. Just as the FIFA Men's WC is the biggest sporting event for male athletes, the FIFA Women's WC is now the THE biggest sporting event for women athletes on the planet. And, having watched the German Polizei in action during WC2006, I noticed they are a group of impeccably presented, highly professional, football-savvy, no-nonsense law enforcement officers ... just the opposite of the scruffy-looking, unprofessional rabble that now calls itself VicPol. So, I'd wager my house that not one of those record number of Tweets during the FIFA Women's WC Final was from the Media Department of Die Polizei Frankfurt providing juvenile "scores" of evictions and arrests from the game! ;-)
Titus
Guest
Womens final sets a record for tweets per second. http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/tweet-record-smashed-by-womens-world-cup-20110719-1hm4z.html
Mick
Guest
US blew it but Japan put it away when it mattered.
Karmikel Funk
Roar Rookie
Japan leading the way in Asian football. After their loss in the 2006 WC did better than us at South Africa 2010. Japan beat us as men's Asian Champs in 2011. We won the women's Asian Cup and then they go on to win the WC. Asian club sides better in the ACL and make the quarter finals with ease while A-League teams struggle to get past first round. Good for healthy rivalry and if we learn from what others are doing, then we can't fail to get better and one day more success will come our way. Very impressed with the USA team and they way they graciously accepted defeat and congratulated the Japanese - no hard feelings or resentment - wonderful sportswomen, all of them.
Karmikel Funk
Roar Rookie
Why is this story about women's soccer in the rugby section - another VicPol joke?
Jewellery
Guest
A great game, The USA used up all of its luck in the semi against France. Congratulations Japan!
Nathan
Guest
Would you like some chicken salt with that chip?
Nathan
Guest
Brilliant achievement to the Japanese and a great outcome for Asian football, great to see! For our own, it does add some lustre to the Asian Cup victory!
dasilva
Guest
Great final Perhaps less fluid and beautiful football I was expecting from Japan but the match made up for that by the shear drama. Japan should have been gone from that match after the first half an hour of the match. USA also had the better chances throughout the match. However I guess it's testament to a great side to be able to snag a result out of being outplayed and not playing to their potential. It was probably one of the better back to the wall rearguard efforts I have seen in football. I'm also happy that the match was played in good spirit and very little of the gamemanship that we see in men's football. I hope it stays this way with the women game even if the game progressively becomes more professional in the future.
Emric
Guest
2007 Rugby World Cup 2,263,223 (47,150 per match) Georgemladenov - sorry man France is a massive football nation and if the Woman's football world cup can't out-rank 2007 Rugby world cup in a football strong hold something is wrong. Second point New Zealand has a population of 4 million and we are still going to be closer if not bigger then your womans football world cup (over a million tickets sold already) What is it about our Football friends feeling more and more insecure about their position as the no.1 sport in the world, Rugby Union is not challenging that position we just want to have our world cup and be left in peace.
Lee
Guest
You might enjoy the football more without that chip on your shoulder.
Davo
Guest
Why even mention the Rugby World Cup? Talk about an inferiority complex....
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Excellent win for Japan and the Asian Football Confederation. However, I'm sure even the staunchest Japanese supporter will agree that Japan was very lucky today - the Nadeshiko saved their worst performance for the Final but, full credit to the ladies ... they NEVER gave up. Their passes wouldn't find the target, they were pushed off the ball to easily by their physically stronger opponents and I lost count of the times the USA hit the woodwork. It could easily have been 6-0 to the USA by half-time. But, these ladies are tough and have real self-belief and I'm just so happy for them and their nation ... after all that the nation has endured this year, I reckon, even the most ardent USA fan will begrudgingly agree that the Japanese deserve to have this 24 hours of smiling & happiness. And, this victory occurred on the "Marine Day" Public Holiday in Japan ... who says there are no fairy-tales in sport? PS: The editors may want to move this article to the Football forum ... it's lost on the Rugby Forum!
Senoroctober
Guest
As an Aussie who has lived here for years, I am overjoyed. Japan played very well in this tournament. Watched a lot of games and was very impressed with their style of play. Yes the Americans dominated large patches of play but missed out on putting the game away in the first half. Japan held their nerve and converted their chances. Great for women's football and football in general. Let's hope the Matildas will be in this position in 4 years time. However, qualifying will be difficult from now on as this win for Japan will only strengthen their team for years to come. 頑張っておめでとう日本。 Well played and congrats Japan. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
georgemladenov
Roar Rookie
Well for one, I am not surprised that the biggest sporting event of the year, the FIFA Womens World Cup 2011 Germany, ended with an absolute bang. This tournament as a whole was an example of the way that football should be played, rather than the tactical, defensive borefest that the bigger matches in the mens game have become. Progressive football, attacking football, never-say-die heart, and more importantly a real sense of fair play and sportsmanship. As a whole the tournament exceeded expectations, and was incredibly entertaining. Record television ratings broken in Europe, Asia and the United States, and fantastic support shown in the stands by the German public with a 26438 average attendance - both feats that the Rugby 'World Cup' will fail to achieve later on this year.