U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!! U.S.A.!!

[SportsFan68]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33085994

Defending champions Japan will be hoping to retain their Women's World Cup title as they meet USA in the final for the second successive tournament.

Japan beat England 2-1 in the semi-final to set up a repeat of the 2011 final, where they beat USA 3-1 on penalties after it had finished 2-2.

But at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, USA won gold when they defeated Japan 2-1 in the final.

"It's a revenge match for both sides," said Japan defender Saki Kumagai.

"Compared to four years ago or even two years ago all our team members have grown. It will be a game where all of us will show how we have developed our skills."

USA are aiming to become the first country to win the World Cup three times after previous successes in 1991 and 1999.

Carli Lloyd, who missed a penalty in the 2011 World Cup final but scored both goals in the Americans' 2-1 Olympic win a year later, said: "I want to bring everything I have to this game.

"Everything is on the line and my foot is on the pedal full force. Our confidence is growing, it grew against China and Germany and now it's no regrets, full throttle.

"We know what's at stake and have to play our best. We'll be able to weather the storm, we've got fresh legs and are physically fit."

There is expected to be a crowd of more than 53,000 at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver for the final.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Holy smokes at halftime! USA 4 Japan 1.

US needs to put the heat back on Japan the first 10 minutes of the second half, to get them off stride before they score another goal. After that, the Japanese team might back down (though I doubt it).

[kayrharris]

That was a great win!

kay

[SportsFan68]

That was an amazing game!

The announcer said that the U.S. played Japan's game, and I agree with that -- keeping control of the ball for long periods, then an opportunity, and BAM!

Congratulations, ladies!

[SpacemanSpiff]

Best play of the night:

Spoiler

Choosing to defend the shady side of the field in the first half. The Japanese 'keeper has trouble with the sun in her eyes (and lots of sun/shade areas in her area) in the first half, which added to the fun of keeping track of where the US players were.

[Vandal]

Congrats to the women's team. They deserve everything they got.

Spoiler

Hope Solo is still a terrible person.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Spoiler

Hope Solo is still a terrible person.

Yep, when I heard the announcers say "Solo makes another good punch save" or words to that effect, I thought, "uh oh, the next internet meme...."

[Jeemie]

Spoiler

Hope Solo is still a terrible person.

Yep, when I heard the announcers say "Solo makes another good punch save" or words to that effect, I thought, "uh oh, the next internet meme...."

There was an ABC News story talking about how Solo psyched out the German player into missing that penalty kick in the semifinal match.

My first thought was "Did she psych her out by telling her she was too fat and lazy to be a good athlete?"

Sorry- but it was...

[silverscreenselect]

We get home about five after seven and I turn the TV on and it shows seven minutes elapsed and 2-0. I thought at first that I got the time wrong and that was the length of time left in the half.

I stayed another ten minutes and it got to be 4-0.

[SportsFan68]

We get home about five after seven and I turn the TV on and it shows seven minutes elapsed and 2-0. I thought at first that I got the time wrong and that was the length of time left in the half.

I stayed another ten minutes and it got to be 4-0.

We got home from camping about two hours before game time (no fireworks in national forests, yay!), and SteelersFan was going to nap until the final five minutes, but it was hopeless. All that yelling . . . He did nap through halftime and the second half.

[tlynn78]

That was so fun to watch! What tremendous athletes.

[Vandal]

Good to know the pay scale for the women is in synch with the international norm:

http://thebillfold.com/2015/07/female-v ... ion-prize/

The U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Japan on Sunday to win the World Cup. For their dominant performance, the team will collect $2 million from FIFA, the international body that runs the tournament.

The championship prize for women pales in comparison to the $8 million in prize money awarded to men’s teams who lose in the first round. Every men’s team was awarded $1.5 million just for participating. …

The U.S. women’s team has won the World Cup three times. The U.S. men have never won the tournament.