New Glory for United States Women’s Soccer

Jere Longman (NYTimes.com, July 5, 2015); Wisdom Quarterly

Abby Wambach (20) and Christie Rampone (3) hold World Cup trophy aloft after U.S. win over Japan. Rampone, 40, had been a part of the last U.S. team to win it, in 1999 (Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today Sports, via Reuters).

 

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Women’s World Cup began uncertainly for midfielder Carli Lloyd. But it quickly built toward predatory dependability, then concluded Sunday in a display of startling deliverance.

 

Lloyd scored the quickest goal in a Women’s World Cup final, slicing a shot with the outside of her left foot from a corner kick in the third minute of a 5-2 victory over Japan, as the United States became the first team to win the tournament three times.

Champion soccer superstar Carli Lloyd, U.S. team (brit.co)

  

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Lloyd was far from done, becoming the first player to score three goals in the final of this tournament. All came in the first 16 minutes, before an ecstatic announced crowd of 53,341 at BC Place Stadium, including Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.

 

Wow, who knew?

The United States built a 4-0 lead, was never really threatened as Japan closed the gap to 4-2, and found redemption after losing to Japan in a penalty shootout in the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup. 

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World record!

In the fifth minute, Lloyd ran onto a back-heel pass from Julie Johnston after a free kick and placed a shot between the legs of a Japanese defender. And in the 16th minute, in an act of great audacity and accuracy, Lloyd launched a shot from midfield. More

 

PHOTOS: Carli Lloyd (Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA Today Sports, via Reuters)