VANCOUVER -U.S. star Carli Lloyd put on arguably the greatest offensive performance in the history of women’s soccer during her team’s 5-2 win over Japan at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final.
Lloyd scored three goals in the first 16 minutes of the match, making her the first women’s player to score a hat trick in a World Cup final.
IN PHOTOS: USA defeats Japan 5-2 at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
The U.S. captain’s first two goals early in the first half came from in close. But Lloyd’s memorable third goal came from way out, a long bomb from midfield that caught Japanese goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori off her line.
“I’ve dreamed of scoring a shot like that,” said Lloyd of her 58-yard strike. “I did it once, I think, when I was a little bit younger on the national team in a training environment.
“Very rarely do you just wind up and hit it.”
As the Americans on the pitch and in the stands celebrated, Kaihori lay on her back with her hands covering her face.
“We talked about trying to start fast,” said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis. “That’s been one of our mantras — start fast, finish strong.”
-with files from Canadian Press
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