OTD in 2011, Japan beat USA 3-1 on penalties to win Women’s World Cup (video)
On July 17th, 2011 Japan beat the United States of America (USA) 3-1 on penalties to win the Women’s World Cup.
The game was tagged to be a battle between David and Goliath as Japan were not even expected to advance to the competition final.
The first half was goalless and so was the second half until Alex Morgan scored in the 69th minute to give the USA the lead.
With USA holding on for the win in normal time, Aya Miyama scored the equalizer for Japan in the 81st minute.
The game proceeded to extra time and Abby Wambach put the USA back in front with a well-taken strike in the 104th minute.
The USA were holding in once again but Japan found an equalizer through Homare_Sawa in the 117th minute which sent the game to penalties.
Only Wambach scored in the shoot out as Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, and Shannon Boxx all missed their penalties for the USA.
Yūki Nagasato missed but Aya Miyama, Mizuho Sakaguchi and Saki Kumagai all scored for Japan who were crowned 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions in front of 48,817 fans in attendance at the Waldstadion, Frankfurt in Germany.
Watch Japan beat the USA on penalties at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup below
