World Cup
Posted By Danny B

VANCOUVER — It’s over and it wasn’t even close.

For the first time since 1999, the U.S. doesn’t have to hear about comparisons to its elders, pressure to win or how it came this close four years ago. Finally, this group of 2015ers has its own World Cup trophy to hoist after beating Japan 5-2 in Sunday’s historic final.

The U.S. came out furiously fast, scoring four goals in 15 minutes, three from captain Carli Lloyd. Before this match, the Americans had only scored two first-half goals all tournament.

But something was different Sunday. Yes, the U.S. had momentum from an emotional semifinal victory over Germany last week, but it was if a special switch had been ignited for the final. Thoughts of losing to Japan four years ago in penalty kicks, not having won a World Cup in 16 years, players’ upcoming retirements.

Whatever it was, it worked.

Here are three takeaways from the USA’s World Cup clinching victory over Japan:

Carli Lloyd unleashed

Four years ago, Lloyd was one of three players to miss her penalty kick against Japan in the shootout that cost them a World Cup. Her shot went high over the crossbar and she immediately put her hands over her mouth in shock.

It was almost as if she had that bitter taste in her mouth on Sunday, playing angry and determined. Sitting slightly higher in the central midfield in front of Morgan Brian and Lauren Holiday as she did against Germany, Lloyd was again given freedom to roam and attack.

And she took full advantage, scoring three goals in the first 15 minutes of the match, becoming the first player ever in a women’s World Cup final to get a hat trick.

© Provided by USA Today Sports (Getty)

Lloyd’s first came in the third minute when she smashed a low Megan Rapinoe corner kick into the right pocket of the net. Two minutes later, Holiday took a free kick that Julie Johnston flicked off and Lloyd pounded straight past Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori.

Then, with the U.S. leading 3-0 after Holiday scored in the 14th minute, Lloyd saw Kaihori sitting high in her box and booted the ball from the midfield line. The ball went over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net. She immediately sprinted to her Hope Solo for a celebration hug.

The Americans were up 4-1 at halftime, the largest lead in men’s or women’s World Cup final history.

Morgan Brian is the unsung hero

Brian was accountable for nearly every U.S. goal.

For starters, Lloyd and Holiday wouldn’t have been able to have the sensational performances they had without the 22-year-old midfielder playing with them as part of a three-person central midfield. Brian’s vision allows her to sit back, direct, and feed balls into the attack, which lets Holiday and Lloyd get more involved up front. Morgan taking on this responsibility centrally allowed Holiday and Lloyd to combine for four goals.

She also picks and chooses times to push up. It was Brian who made an early run deep to the right corner of the field in the opening minutes, bouncing a ball off a Japanese player that resulted in the Rapinoe corner and eventual Lloyd goal. And tt was Brian who made another run in the second half to send a low cross across the mouth of the goal that Tobin Heath finished to put the U.S. up 5-2.

The U.S. has played its best soccer the last three games. And Brian has started in all of those matches.

Peaking at the right time

Before heading to Canada, Jill Ellis and her players have emphatically said they do not want to peak until they are standing on the top podium with a World Cup title.

Well, they were right.

The World Cup started slow for the U.S., producing underwhelming performances in the Group of Death stage. Lloyd wasn’t involved in the attack, Alex Morgan was injured, the midfield was uncreative and the game plan often appeared to lob balls into the box in search of Abby Wambach’s head.

But as the tournament progressed, so did the U.S. And the team finally reached its peak with a convincing win over Japan in the final.