The Women's World Cup Final

Yesterday there was a lot of football being played around the world. I am so happy that the game I chose to give the most attention to was the FIFA Women's World Cup Final. It was worth it, from start (literally) to the end of the game. It was a good final and worthy of the occasion.



Megan Rapinoe

The first thing I noticed was that Megan Rapinoe was finally starting for the US. She had an amazing tournament and in my opinion has been really underated. The game kicked off and immediately there was an opportunity for the US on the Japanese goal. Lauren Cheney within seconds had a shot at the near post, a shot in which she should've passed to Wambach in the middle, but a good shot regardless. Welcome to the final.

Lauren Cheney

In the 8th minute, Cheney was again at it, just missing on a cross by Megan Rapinoe. Less than 5 minutes later, the favour was returned, Rapinoe missed on a cross by Cheney. Despite the near misses, after 15 minutes it was all USA, but where was Abby Wambach? She was yet to make an impact on the game. Megan Rapinoe began to make her mark on the game gradually however, hitting the post in the 18th. The Japanese still hadn't had much chances in the game and the US almost capitalized in the 27th when Wambach finally showed up with a powerful left footed shot from the edge of the 18 yard box. The shot was hit as well as she could hit it and ricocheted off the crossbar. I still have no idea how she missed that shot. Japan replied quickly with their first good chance of the game. A through ball from Ohno was played to Ando putting her in a good 1 on 1 situation, but her weak shot was saved easily by Hope Solo.

Hope Solo

30 Minutes into the match, the USA still had the upper hand but Japan had began picking their spots. The 15 remaining minutes before the half saw Japan get more involved, even missing a great opportunity in the 43rd. The Half came with the score still tied 0-0, even though the USA had dominated for the most part. Japan were still very much in it though and could easily steal the game.

Alex Morgan

At the half the US lost the early spark plug, Lauren Cheney. She was replaced with qualifying hero and youngest team member, Alex Morgan. The US started where they left off and in the 49th minute there was a scramble infront of the Japanese goal but the ball was cleared. The US were causing problems for the Japanese. Japan continued to counter attack with through balls but rarely got off a shot. The USA led in shot total 15-5 at this point, though they struggled to get a shot on target. Japan began to get more creative, and a clever pass over the top by Sawa to Kinga was shot over bar. After an hour of play the score was still tied 0-0 with the Japanese evening things out.

Abby Wambach started getting more opportunities in the air after the 60 minute mark and began getting more involved in the play upfront. She had been absorbing most of the attention by the defence to this point, freeing up her strike partners, Lauren Cheney at first and now Alex Morgan. In the 65th minute she caught a break from the tough Japanese defence and was able to connect with a diving header. The shot was tipped just over the bar by the keeper, though it was an amazing shot. Just 3 minutes later, Megan Rapinoe, who had been so good all tournament long with her passes and crosses, sent a perfect long ball down field to transition from defence to offence. The ball found substitute Alex Morgan who had a clear path to goal in front of her. She took 1 touch before shooting, the ball found the corner of the net, the USA had opened the scoring! It was 1-0 in the 69th minute. Could the USA hold on though?

Japan immediately pushed forward to compensate for the goal, but the next 10 minutes were uneventful. Japan didn't change their strategy and kept pushing forward with through balls and clever passes. You could feel that one of these created opportunities would bend the defence to the point of breaking. The defence indeed broke under the pressure. With just 9 minutes left in the game, a ball was lifted into the penalty area by Japan and caused problems for the US defence. Buehler got to the ball but quickly passed it off to Kreiger, unable to clear, Kreiger lost control of the ball and it fell to the feet of Aya Miyama. Miyama smartly shot away from where Hope Solo would be diving and converted the relatively easy chance. Late into the game the score was tied. Just 1 minute later, Nagatoma of Japan had another good chance but the defence prevailed. The pressure had now shifted unto the US.

The Americans started playing long ball for the remainder of regulation time. Japan kept pushing for a winner though, and the action began going back and forth. USA began pressuring hard into the 90th minute but no shots were taken as the defence were able to handle everything thrown at them. The final whistle blew and it was 1-1. We would go to extra time

The USA true to form, began attacking immediately in the extra period. Wambach got off a strong header in the 91st but directly at the goalkeeper. 5 minutes later the USA were still getting more opportunities and had seemed to be back to dominating. Japan rarely pressured in the entire first period of extra time, just seemed to be playing defence. In the 103rd minute, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe began building up play from the corner, ending with Alex Morgan heading down the touchline towards goal. She crossed in the tight space she had and found Wambach in the 6 yard box. Abby headed the ball at point blank range and there was not much the keeper could do. Goal, USA! They now led 2-1, and it was Abby Wambach's 13th all time World Cup goal. A USA record. The whistle sounded and we would head to the last period of extra time.

The match continued immediately without much break and the Japanese tried to apply the pressure. In the 112th minute the US defence again messed up but Japan couldn't equalize. A defensive substitution was then made by the USA replacing Megan Rapinoe with Heath Tobin. In the 115th minute Japan again pressured the breaking US defence but again couldn't score, despite beating Hope Solo, who appeared to get injured on the play. The play resulted in a corner kick, but a slight delay ensued as the US trainers worked on Hope Solo. The resulting corner kick was taken and Sawa got her head to it putting the ball into the back of the net. In her 5th World Cup, she had just scored her tournament leading 5th goal, with just 5 minutes left. It was now 2-2. The US puhed forward again and in the 120th minute Abby Wambach missed a sitter. Maybe because the ball came to her foot and not her head. In injury time Japanese defender, Iwashimizu pulled down Alex Morgan on the edge of the penalty area and was Red Carded for the infraction. The resulting free kick gave USA more than 1 good opportunity to score, but they couldn't convert. We would go to penalties!!!

The USA would kick first, and Shannon Boxx would be the taker. She went to the keeper's left, but a great reflex save was made giving the US their first shootout miss in history. Aya Miyama stepped up for Japan and simply rolled her shot down the middle as Solo moved out of the way. Japan led 1-0. Carly Lloyd stepped up and promptly sent her penalty over bar. The US were now in trouble. Nagasato stepped up to give Japan a 2-0 lead, but failed. Hope Solo made the save, keeping the score at 1-0 after 2 kicks each. Tobin Heath stepped up next with the aim of scoring the USA's first kick. She too failed, her shot saved by the Japanese keeper. Hope Solo made a good effort on Japan's next kick, getting a hand to the shot, but the pace sent it into the back of the net. Sawaguchi had scored and Japan now led 2-0 after 3 kicks each. It was now clear that the USA would lose in all likelyhood. Abby Wambach stepped up next and converted a beauty of a penalty, but it would be too little, too late. Kunagai would convert Japan's 4th and final kick to give Japan the win 3-1 in the shootout, and their first World Cup title. This one would hurt the US player's for sure. They led twice only to be equalized late, but after the tragedy in Japan earlier this year at least their nation gets something to smile about.

Sawa holding the trophy!