USA Routs Japan to Win World Cup, 5-2

So much for drama. The US women's soccer team beat Japan for the World Cup tonight by a score of 5-2—and four of those goals came in the first 16 minutes, three of them courtesy of Carli Lloyd. Lloyd made it 1-0 at the three-minute mark, 2-0 at the five-minute mark, and 4-0 at the 16-minute mark, following Lauren Holiday's goal. Japan got to within 4-2 (thanks to an own goal by American defender Julie Johnston early in the second half), but Tobin Heath quickly made it 5-2. The victory gives 35-year-old US great Abby Wambach her first World Cup title in her last attempt at it. The victory is particularly sweet for the Americans, who lost to Japan in penalty kicks in the 2011 World Cup final. (More US women's soccer stories.)