Japan wins Women's World Cup 2011, 3-1 on penalty kicks.
Japan won the Women’s World Cup 2011 with a stunning, come-from-behind win on penalty kicks. The victory comes barely four months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the nation. It was the most gut-wrenching, most emotional and most dramatic final in the history of the Women's World Cup. It produced the most surprising, most gloriously happy and most deserving world champion women's soccer has yet seen.
The penalty kick shootout had always been good to the U.S. women's national soccer team. From the Brandi Chastain-highlighted 1999 final to last week's comeback win over Brazil, the United States had never missed in a penalty kick shootout at the World Cup. That all changed Sunday night in Frankfurt, Germany, as the United States missed its first three penalties in the shootout, falling to surprise winners Japan 3-1 on penalty kicks in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011.
Veteran U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx saw her effort denied by a foot save from goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. Then Aya Miyama scored for Japan.
Carli Lloyd blasted her shot high over the crossbar. Then Yuki Nagasato's shot was saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, diving right.
Tobin Heath's shot was saved by Kaihori, diving right. Then Mizuho Sakaguchi's effort went in off Solo's hand at the post.
Abby Wambach scored to keep the U.S. alive, barely. Then Saki Kumagai's shot flashed into the net and Japan was the world champion.
"I just had to believe in myself and I was very confident," Kaihori said of her two crucial saves.
It seems like just the other day the U.S. fans were wondering if Abby Wambach would ever score another goal. She came into the World Cup with just one all year and then missed on numerous chances in the first two games. But she ended up with four goals in the tournament.
Wambach, 31, had said she considered her long and glorious career — she's an Olympic gold medalist and the third-leading goal-scorer in U.S. women's soccer history — incomplete without a World Cup championship.
She will have to wait and see if she can return to the World Cup at age 35.
It was the cruelest of endings for the U.S., the happiest of outcomes for Japan, and there were tears aplenty when it was all over.
"Thank you for all your support and all your cheering," said Homare Sawa, who scored Japan's 117th-minute goal and was named the player of the tournament. "It was our energy and it encouraged us."
Japan is the first Asian nation to win the World Cup.
After recording the 3rd goal for their team, Japan's Nahomi Kawasumi praises with her teammates at their semi-final match against Sweden at the Women’s World Cup 2011 held in Germany on Wednesday July 13, 2011
The honorable name Japan’s star player 2011 belongs to the midfielder Homare Sawa. She is the best player because of already scoring four goals from midfield in five games for Japan in the 2011 World Cup tournament. Moreover, the Japan’s captain Sawa is a powerhouse in midfield who provides for their side leadership, experience and goals. She is appreciated as a key player for Japan and a deadly treat to opponents.
The midfielder also the captain of Japan’s women football team, Homare Sawa is honored as a star player in the World Cup 2011 tournament, a key player for Japan and a deadly treat to opponents
The scene of US’s Alex Morgan scores a goal during Women's World Cup semi-final soccer match against France
Japan won the Women’s World Cup 2011 with a stunning, come-from-behind win on penalty kicks. The victory comes barely four months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the nation. It was the most gut-wrenching, most emotional and most dramatic final in the history of the Women's World Cup. It produced the most surprising, most gloriously happy and most deserving world champion women's soccer has yet seen.
The penalty kick shootout had always been good to the U.S. women's national soccer team. From the Brandi Chastain-highlighted 1999 final to last week's comeback win over Brazil, the United States had never missed in a penalty kick shootout at the World Cup. That all changed Sunday night in Frankfurt, Germany, as the United States missed its first three penalties in the shootout, falling to surprise winners Japan 3-1 on penalty kicks in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011.
Veteran U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx saw her effort denied by a foot save from goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori. Then Aya Miyama scored for Japan.
Carli Lloyd blasted her shot high over the crossbar. Then Yuki Nagasato's shot was saved by U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, diving right.
Tobin Heath's shot was saved by Kaihori, diving right. Then Mizuho Sakaguchi's effort went in off Solo's hand at the post.
Abby Wambach scored to keep the U.S. alive, barely. Then Saki Kumagai's shot flashed into the net and Japan was the world champion.
"I just had to believe in myself and I was very confident," Kaihori said of her two crucial saves.
It seems like just the other day the U.S. fans were wondering if Abby Wambach would ever score another goal. She came into the World Cup with just one all year and then missed on numerous chances in the first two games. But she ended up with four goals in the tournament.
Wambach, 31, had said she considered her long and glorious career — she's an Olympic gold medalist and the third-leading goal-scorer in U.S. women's soccer history — incomplete without a World Cup championship.
She will have to wait and see if she can return to the World Cup at age 35.
It was the cruelest of endings for the U.S., the happiest of outcomes for Japan, and there were tears aplenty when it was all over.
"Thank you for all your support and all your cheering," said Homare Sawa, who scored Japan's 117th-minute goal and was named the player of the tournament. "It was our energy and it encouraged us."
Japan is the first Asian nation to win the World Cup.
Japan's Homare Sawa (center) celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the final match between Japan and the United States at the World Cup 2011.
Japan's Saki Kumagai, left, scores the winning goal past U.S. goalie Hope Solo during a penalty shootout at the Women's World Cup 2011 final.
Japan's midfielder Homare Sawa scores the go-ahead goal against Sweden in their Women's World Cup semifinal match and Japan will play U.S. in the World Cup final with a 3 - 1 victory over Sweden on Wednesday
Japanese Women's soccer team
U.S. women players celebrate Alex Morgan's goal in the match they win 3 - 1 over France on Wednesday, July 13, 2011
US women's soccer team in the 2011 World Cup tournament
US’s football star is the reliable, experience Abby Wambach who scored 3 goals in this tournament
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