Japan beats US football team, wins 2011 Women’s World Cup title for the first time

By Angel Cuala on Jul 18, 2011 in Europe, Football, Sports, World • No comments

Japan’s football team “Nadeshiko” won the 2011 Women’s World Cup title for the first time, after beating the US team on Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Japan football team, after beating US
in the 2011 Women’s World Cup finls
Image Credit: Getty Images

According to international news sites that day, Japan beat US during the 2011 Women’s World Cup finals and became the first Asian country to win the World Cup title.

As noted in reports, the score was tied at 2-2 but the Japanese scored in the added time via a final shot by Saki Kumagai over US goalkeeper Hope Solo, 3-1.

“We lost to a great team, we really did. I truly believe that something bigger was pulling for this team.” U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo was quoted at ESPN, which broadcast the game.

Nevertheless, the Japanese women’s team led by Coach Norio Sasaki was noted to have won the World Cup 2011 Finals the hard way, after beating Sweden last Wednesday, 3-1.

Apparently, “Nadeshiko” has been outplayed by US in the first 20 minutes of the game but did not give up as Japan star player Aya Miyama scored on the 81st minute.

Japan captain Homare Sawa scored from the corner in the remaining three minutes of the game, which equalized the score and set up in the shootout.

“We ran and ran. We were exhausted but we kept running,” Sawa reportedly said, who had five goals in the tournament and highest scorer of the Japanese team.

The Japanese team had never won a Asian title, while the US team failed to win its third Women’s World Cup title after winning it in 1991 and 1999.