Carli Lloyd scores hat-trick as United States crush Japan 5-2 to win Women’s World Cup
Carli Lloyd became the first woman to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final as she inspired the United States to a 5-2 demolition of defending champions Japan on Sunday. The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999, became the first nation to win the crown three times, following a rematch of the 2011 final where they lost to Japan on penalties.
Carli Lloyd led from the front as the United States won the Women’s World Cup for a third time with a crushing 5-2 victory over Japan on Sunday, the striker scoring the tournament’s fastest ever hat-trick, including a spectacular long-range goal.
The American captain struck three times inside 16 minutes as the US stormed into an unexpected and insurmountable 4-0 lead over their shell-shocked opponents.
I was on a mission to help this team, I just worked my butt off. Collectively, so brilliant, so brilliant, so proud
Japan, winners four years ago, were utterly stunned as their opponent’s deadly finishing ensured the US added to their 1991 and 1999 titles and became the first nation to win the Cup three times.
The game, played in front of 53,341 spectators at a packed BC Place, was the highest-scoring Women’s World Cup final ever and, for non-Japanese at least, was an entertaining finale to what has been an excellent tournament.
“Honestly, I’m so proud of this team, it’s unreal, it hasn’t really sunk in. I’m just so unbelievably proud of every woman on this team,” an emotional Lloyd said in a pitchside interview.
“I was on a mission to help this team, I just worked my butt off. Collectively, so brilliant, so brilliant, so proud,” said the 32-year-old midfielder.