Carli Lloyd’s Hat Trick Wins World Cup

The U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Japan 5-2 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final Sunday in Vancouver, securing a 4-0 lead within the first 16 minutes of the game. Carli Lloyd led the team with two goals in the first few minutes, followed by Lauren Holiday’s goal off an attempt by a Japan defender to clear the ball in the box. Lloyd pulled a hat trick to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead before Japan’s Yuku Ogimi ended the U.S. team’s run. In the second half, Julie Johnston scored on her own team’s net to give Japan its second goal, but Tobin Heath sealed a final of 5-2. The World Cup victory is the third overall for the U.S.—the most in women’s soccer history. Lloyd was awarded the Golden Ball for the game’s best player.