View 26 more
Japan's Homare Sawa, left, United States' Abby Wambach, and United States goalkeeper Hope Solo hold their personal awards after the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 20 Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo reacts during the penalty shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
US players reacts following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori reacts after Japan won the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori, right, and Japan's Saki Kumagai hug after winning the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan players celebrate winning the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Probst, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan's Saki Kumagai celebrates scoring the decisive goal during the penalty shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo reacts after US lost the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Abby Wambach, left, and United States goalkeeper Hope Solo hold their personal awards after the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo, left, reacts after Japan won the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan's Homare Sawa lifts the trophy following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan players celebrate with the trophy following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Frank Augstein, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan's Saki Kumagai scores the decisive goal past United States goalkeeper Hope Solo during the penalty-shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Jessica Doyle, center, reacts as the U.S. loses to Japan during the Women's World Cup Final, while watching at Public Bar in Washington, on Sunday, July 17, 2011. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Abby Wambach scores her side's second goal during the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan players celebrate with the trophy following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Abby Wambach celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Sohn, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan players celebrate with the trophy following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Frank Augstein, Associated Press
View 26 more
From left, Japan's Homare Sawa, Yukari Kinga, and Aya Sameshima, celebrate winning the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Michael Probst, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Carli Lloyd reacts after missing from the penalty spot during the penalty shoot-out of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Frank Augstein, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Becky Sauerbrunn,' Heather O Reilly, and Christie Rampone react following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
From left, Japan's Homare Sawa, Yukari Kinga, Aya Sameshima, and Mana Iwabuchi celebrate winning the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. the final match between Ja Michael Probst, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori makes a save during penalty-shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States goalkeeper Hope Solo fails to save a penalty during the penalty shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
United States' Rachel Buehler, left, goalkeeper Hope Solo, and Abby Wambach pose for a photo following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan's Saki Kumagai celebrates scoring the decisive goal during the penalty shootout of the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
View 26 more
Japan players celebrate with the trophy following the final match between Japan and the United States at the Women"™s Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, July 17, 2011. Martin Meissner, Associated Press
By Associated Press

FRANKFURT, Germany — They came to play for their earthquake and tsunami-ravaged country. They left with the Women's World Cup trophy, holding it high above their smiling faces, flecked with gold confetti.

Japan stunned the Americans in a riveting final, beating the favorites 3-1 in a penalty shootout Sunday after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori made two brilliant saves in the shootout.

"Before we went to the match tonight we had some commentary on television and we heard comments on the situation in Japan," coach Norio Sasaki said. "We wanted to use this opportunity to thank the people back home for the support that has been given."

This was Japan's first appearance in the final of a major tournament, and they had not beaten the Americans in their previous 25 meetings, including a pair of 2-0 losses in warm-up matches a month before the World Cup. But the Nadeshiko pushed ahead, playing inspired football and hoping their success could provide even a small emotional lift to their nation, still reeling from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northern coast of the country and left nearly 23,000 dead or missing.

After each game, the team unfurled a banner saying, "To our Friends Around the World — Thank You for Your Support." On Sunday, they did it before the match and afterward they had a new sign to display: Champions — and the first Asian country to win this title.

View Comments

The Americans found it all too hard to grasp. They believed they were meant to be World Cup champions after their rocky year — needing a playoff to qualify, a loss in group play to Sweden, the epic comeback against Brazil. They simply couldn't pull off one last thriller.

"The players were patient, they wanted to win this game," Sasaki said. "I think it's because of that the Americans scored only two goals."

"We ran and ran," captain Homare Sawa said. "We were exhausted, but we kept running."

"This is a team effort," Kaihori said. "In the penalty shootout I just had to believe in myself and I was very confident."

Join the Conversation
We’re testing some changes to our moderation system. You’ll see two changes:
  1. Fewer comments automatically sent to moderation (we hope).
  2. Lower tolerance for uncivil comments. If you encounter a warning that your comment will be sent to moderation, try revising before you submit for the best chance of approval.
Your feedback is welcome and can be submitted here.
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.