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Women's World Cup: Lloyd leads USA to title

By The Sports Xchange

Forward Carli Lloyd completed a hat trick in the first 20 minutes of the game to help the United States win its third Women's World Cup title by beating Japan 5-2 in Sunday's championship match in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The United State added the 2015 title to the ones it won in the first Woman's World Cup 1991 and the third World Cup in 1999, giving the Americans one more championship than Germany.

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The American did it by beaten the defending World Cup champions from Japan, who defeated the Americans in the 2011 finals on penalty kicks after the teams had tied in regulation.

Although the Americans had been outstanding on defense in previous World Cup games this year, their offense had been lacking.

However, they exploded for four goals in the first 17 minutes of Sunday's game. That virtually sealed the victory of the Americans.

The United States jumped on top early as Lloyd scored in the third minute. Lloyd made it 2-0 less than six minutes into the game by scoring her second goal.

Lauren Holiday made it 3-0 with a goal in the 14th minute, and Lloyd scored her third goal about two minutes later to give the Americans a comfortable 4-0 lead less than 20 minutes into the contest.

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Japan got on the board in the 27th minute on a goal by Yuki Ogimi. It was the first goal allowed by the Americans since their opener in group play, and they had allowed just one goal entering the title match.

The United States gave Japan a gift goal in the 52nd minute when American defender Julie Johnston accidentally put the ball into her own net for an own-goal. But Tobin Heath restored the three-goal margin with a goal two minutes later.

The five U.S. goals were three more than any team had scored in the previous six Women's World Cup championship matches.

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