Sixteen minutes.
That’s all it took for the U.S. to kill off any hope Japan harboured of repeating as FIFA Women’s World Cup champions. The final on July 5 in Vancouver was billed as "the ultimate rematch" from four years earlier, when Japan upset the heavily favoured U.S. in a tightly contested affair that ended in a dramatic shootout.
Many expected another close match this time around, that the pass-and-move Japanese and powerful, athletic Americans would put on another amazing sporting spectacle. Instead, the U.S. jumped out to an early 4–0 lead en route to a crushing 5–2 victory before 53,341 mostly stunned spectators inside BC Place Stadium.
Nobody saw this beatdown coming—the ease with which the Americans hammered the reigning champions was shocking. But it was a fitting end to one of the best Women’s World Cups on record, a tournament that provided plenty of surprises, drama and entertainment.
It all started on the opening day of the competition, in Edmonton, where Canada hosted China in a game that looked destined for a dull 0–0 finish. Step forward Christine Sinclair, who converted from the penalty spot deep into injury time to send the fans jammed inside Commonwealth Stadium into a state of pure bedlam.
The group stage continued at a frantic pace, with the majority of teams committed to playing attacking soccer, resulting in only two goalless draws. Germany beat the Ivory Coast 10–0; Sweden versus Nigeria finished 3–3.
Then the first major surprise arrived, as Australia stunned mighty Brazil 1–0 in the round of 16 in Moncton, N.B. The Matildas had never won a knockout game at the World Cup, making their improbable win over a Brazil side featuring Marta—the greatest female player of all time—one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
More drama followed in the quarterfinals, most notably with No. 1–ranked Germany coming from behind to beat fan favourites France in a shootout in Montreal, and Canada losing a heartbreaker to England in Vancouver.
The semifinals were tense contests, with the U.S. just getting by Germany, and England losing to Japan. The English, the revelation of the tournament, bowed out in cruel fashion when defender Laura Bassett scored an own goal in the 92nd minute to send the Japanese through to the final.
Four days after that sucker punch, England beat the Germans in extra time to take home the bronze medal.
All of which set the stage for the final, which was essentially over in the 16th minute, when American captain Carli Lloyd completed her hat trick in spectacular fashion, crossing the halfway line and lobbing a glorious shot that sailed over Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori and nestled in the back of the net.
That incredible 16-minute run was one of the most memorable spans in World Cup history, propelling the U.S. to their first title in 16 years and capping off a marvellous tournament that captured the hearts and attention of Canadian sports fans for one magical summer month.