The United States thrashed defending champion Japan 5-2 in the Women’s World Cup final. It was revenge for the U.S. instead of a repeat for Japan, after the U.S. suffered a penalty kick loss in the Cup final four years ago. Here are the keys to how the Americans claimed their first World Cup title since 1999:
Lloyd be three
Captain Carli Lloyd was indeed Clutch Carli, earning the Golden Ball Award as the tournament’s top player. The Rutgers grad had the first hat trick in a Women’s World Cup final, and did it all in the first half. The highlight was her audacious chip over the keeper from midfield.
Jersey Giants
Lloyd wasn’t the only Jersey Girl having a great game. Tobin Heath — born in Morristown and raised in Basking Ridge — was the second-best offensive force on the field. The 27-year-old midfielder drew the foul that directly led to the U.S. second goal, assisted on the third tally and scored the fifth goal herself.
Keep away
The U.S. actually gave Japan a dose of its own medicine. Usually relying just on athleticism and explosiveness, the U.S. actually held first-half possession against the technical Japanese, who came in completing a tourney-high 80 percent of their passes. Three of the five U.S. goals came off set pieces.