VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Carli Lloyd became the first player in Women’s World Cup history to score a hat trick in the final, finding net three times in the opening 16 minutes.
Lloyd scored off a corner kick in the 3rd minute and then scored again two minutes later off another set piece. Her third goal — which came two minutes after Lauren Holiday had put the U.S. up 3-0 over Japan — electrified the pro-U.S. crowd of over 50,000 fans at BC Place. Lloyd collected the ball, looked up and saw Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori off her line an drove a ball over the head of a back-pedaling Kaihori, who could only push it off the post and into the net.
This was Lloyd’s legendary goal from midfield:
That came after Lloyd scored this sweet volley:
Lloyd opened the scoring with this goal:
And then she did this two minutes later:
Japan did get one back to make it 4-1 at halftime:
