FRANKFURT — It was a storybook ending, just not the one the U.S. women’s soccer team wanted.
In a shocking upset Sunday, Japan won the Women’s World Cup by defeating Team USA 3-1 in a penalty-kick shootout after they played to a 2-2 tie in regulation and extra time.
Ranked No. 4 in the world entering the Germany-hosted tournament, Japan arguably was the sentimental favorite, providing a feel-good story to a nation devastated by a March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 23,000 people dead or missing.
“They are playing for something bigger and better than the game. And when you’re playing with so much emotion and so much heart, that’s hard to play against,” U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo said before the title match.
But it was still a heartbreaking blow to the U.S. team, which had captured the imagination of millions back home and was aiming for its first World Cup championship since 1999.
Before the first whistle, fans ranging from President Barack Obama to Lance Armstrong tweeted their support. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ended a news conference in Athens, Greece, by yelling, “Go USA!”
If there was one thing that characterized the U.S. team, it was its never-say-die attitude that helped it win a thrilling quarterfinal even after it fell behind Brazil in extra time — and down a player, no less.
But it was not enough Sunday, even though the Americans dominated the first half of the championship match with powerful, possession-style play that created several scoring opportunities against what seemed a lack-luster Japanese attack.
“Soccer is a funny game. Unfortunately, you can’t win everything,” U.S. defender Ali Krieger said. “I think we played really good, and I didn’t think they were going to tie it up on the second goal. I thought we would win 2-1, but that’s how it is.”
Despite dominating in the first half, Team USA landed on the scoreboard only in the second half. The opening goal came after Alex Morgan, at age 22 the Americans’ youngest player, collected the ball off a sterling pass from Megan Rapinoe and kicked it past Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori in the 69th minute.
Japan equalized the 81st minute after Rachel Buehler and Krieger couldn’t clear the ball out of the penalty area, which allowed Japan’s Aya Miyama to chip it past Solo.
That goal gave Japan momentum, and it started to look a little more like the team that in the quarterfinals defeated Germany, the two-time defending World Cup champion and tournament favorite.
In extra time, Team USA’s Abby Wambach scored the go-ahead goal with a powerful header off a cross by Morgan in the 104th minute.
With that goal, Wambach became Team USA’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup competition, beating the previous record of 12 goals by Michelle Akers. All of a sudden, it seemed as if the Americans were set to win their third World Cup title.
But their hopes of were dashed by a late goal from Homare Sawa, the 32-year-old Japanese superstar who tied the score in the 117th minute to force the shootout.
“We fought hard until the end, until we won this game,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki, who said his team would celebrate with “one glass of excellent German beer.”
Frankfurt proved it was a soccer-mad city regardless of which teams played in the final, with thunderous applause repeatedly erupting from the sellout crowd of 48,817 at Commerzbank-Arena on the outskirts of the city. The crowd gave Japan a standing ovation after the match.
It was an emotional victory for the Japanese, who carried a banner reading: “To our Friends Around the World: Thank You for Your Support” after they clinched the title.
“I think we gave the crowd a good game today. . . . It has to be a final to remember,” said U.S. coach Pia Sund-hage, who praised her team for its style of play in the first half. “We won a silver medal. I hope I can feel that after a couple of weeks.”
Japan 0 1 0 1 — 2
United States 0 1 1 0 — 2
Japan won 3-1 on penalty kicks
First half — None.
Second half — 1, United States, Morgan 2 (Rapinoe), 69th minute. 2, Japan, Miyama 2, 81st minute.
First overtime — 3, United States, Wambach 4 (Morgan), 104th minute.
Second overtime — 4, Japan, Sawa 5 (Miyama), 117th minute.
Penalty kicks — United States 1 (Boxx SV, Lloyd NG, Heath SV, Wambach G); Japan 3 (Miyama G, Nagasato SV, Sakaguchi G, Kumagai G).
Yellow card — Miyama, Japan, 97th. Red card — Iwashimizu, Japan, 120th+1.
Referee — Bibiana Steinhaus, Germany. Assistant referees — Marina Wozniak, Germany; Katrin Rafalski, Germany. A — 48,817.
Oh, so close
A look at how Team USA’s attempt to win its first Women’s World Cup in 12 years came up short Sunday:
Up 1-0: Alex Morgan’s goal in the 69th minute gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead, but Japan tied it with about nine minutes left after two failed attempts by the U.S. to clear out the ball from its own goal.
Up 2-1: Abby Wambach’s header in the 104th minute appeared to be a Cup- winner, but Japan’s Homare Sawa flicked in a corner kick in the 117th minute to tie the score and force penalty kicks.
Penalty shootout: Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath missed for Team USA, and Japan made two of its first three shots. Wambach finally scored for the U.S. But when Saki Kumagai made her shot, Japan became the first Asian team to win the Women’s World Cup.
