In a rematch of the 2011 Women's World Cup Final, Team USA was determined to extract revenge against a Japan team that handed them defeat four years ago. They got all of that and more.
Spurred on by a Carli Lloyd hat trick in the first half, with her first goal coming less than three minutes in, the U.S. struck early and often against a Japanese team that seemed shell shocked by their opponent's intensity en route to capturing its third World Cup title and first since 1999 by a score of 5-2. Team USA has become the first country ever to win three Women's World Cups.
Tobin Heath and Lauren Holiday each tacked on a goal a piece on top of Lloyd's three, but the story today was all about Lloyd. With her three goals today, Lloyd's total comes to six in seven World Cup games, an incredible number for a player that has put the USWNT on her back and carried them to the finish line.
Fans and fellow athletes alike were hyped about Lloyd and her team's huge victory, and took to Twitter to celebrate. Congrats, Team USA. Can't wait to do it again in 2019.
[Via Twitter]
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