USA vs. Japan, World Cup 2015 final: Live coverage and score updates

This year’s Women’s World Cup Final drew a HUGE audience on Sunday:

How does that compare to the final match between U.S. and Japan in 2011?:

Four years ago, the USWNT lost to Japan in the World Cup final. Twice they took the lead. Twice they threw it away. Then penalties came, and the first three United States women who stepped up to the spot all missed, all but handing Japan the win. That set off a bizarre four years for the national team, a period that saw them mix success with frustrating periods of transition and struggle that marred much of the time between World Cups.

They’ve had three managers in that time. They’ve had to try to figure out ways to work in new players while keeping the old guard involved. They’ve struggled to find effective tactics and personnel groupings at times, and especially leading up to this past World Cup. Those struggles haven’t just been limited to this year, though -- they’ve twice failed to win the Algarve Cup, a competition they’ve dominated for over a decade, including a shocking seventh place finish in 2014.

The United States did not merely win. They showed up and instantly began eviscerating, mercilessly destroying their opponent, laughing at the very idea that other teams should be allowed to play against them. They dominated, thoroughly and viciously. Here is every other women’s soccer team on this planet, here is a 900-foot staircase, and then there is America.

You probably didn’t have enough time after turning on your TV before America scored:

The first will be on the August 16 at 1:30 ET and will be played at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The second comes three days later at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. at 6:30. Both matches will be televised -- the first on Fox Sports 1, and the second on ESPN2. Expect announcements of more games to come shortly.

Of course, there’s also club play, and every single member of the USWNT play in the National Women’s Soccer League in the U.S. The relatively young league is stocked with incredible talent from around the world, and each team has U.S. national team stars doing amazing things.

The United States are World Cup winners, beating Japan 5-2 in an incredible rematch of the final from four years ago. All but one of them are World Cup winners for the first time. Some of the players from this incredible squad will not play another big match for the team.

Wambach, in particular, was seriously emotional before this World Cup. It would be the tournament that defined her legacy, and she couldn’t stomach finishing her career without lifting the biggest prize in her sport. She’s finally done it, while Boxx has her first as well, and Rampone has her second.

It’s been 16 years since the U.S. Women’s National Team brought home the World Cup.

LET’S CELEBRATE!

★★★

SB Nation video archives: Dumbest athlete photo uploads ever (2013)

Finally. The perfect end to an amazing international career. Thank you, Abby Wambach.

Meet Shannon Boxx’s daughter, Zoe. She’s adorable, and she really loves confetti.

Both of them, of course. As the players walked up to get their winners’ medals, Rampone and Wambach hung back, then walked up to the podium together after all their teammates had gone. They grabbed and lifted the trophy together in a bit of an unprecedented move.

It was an awesome moment, and a perfect end to an era of women’s soccer.

Photos via Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images

Photos via Dennis Grombkowski, Getty Images

Lloyd finished tied with Germany’s Celia Sasic as the top goalscorer of the World Cup with six in seven matches, and every goal was huge. She scored the winners against China and Germany to get the US women this far, and her first goal, against Colombia in the first knockout round, secured that match and took the wind out of Colombia’s sails as they tried for the upset.

While she drew some criticism for her play in midfield, it’s impossible to discount that when it came to clutch moments, Lloyd came up big when it counted the most. That’s the hallmark of a Golden Ball winner, and she well deserves the honor. Congratulations, Carli Lloyd, you’ve earned this.

I’m not crying, you’re crying.

★★★

Ellis’ focus on set pieces paid off. The USWNT ran two clearly planned and diagrammed set piece routines on their first two dead balls, one from a corner kick and one from a free kick that was a near-corner situation. On both occasions, Carli Lloyd lost Azusa Iwashimizu -- who was substituted in the middle of the first half as punishment for her errors -- and scored. After that, Japan didn’t have a chance. They fought hard after going down by four goals, but their 5-2 loss was inevitable after Lloyd’s second.

Ellis couldn’t have possibly known that the opening minutes were going to work out this well, but she knew that there was something to exploit. She knew there were plays she could run to get Lloyd chances to score on set plays. She had a plan, her team executed it, and it worked. And amazingly, she told us her team’s focus before the game started. Way to call your shot, Jill.

The USWNT pressed relentlessly from the first whistle, scoring on their first two shots of the match, with Carli Lloyd coming up big in the third and sixth minutes. It was a stunning start and one that no one saw coming headed into this match. Most pundits felt that the U.S. would win, but that it would be a more tightly fought, much like when these two played in the 2011 final and Japan came out the victors on penalties.

The USWNT decided that a mere two-goal lead wouldn’t do, and just two minutes later, Tobin Heath knocked in an incredible fifth goal for the U.S. by working the ball in off a set piece. Any hope Japan had of mounting a serious comeback all but died with that goal, though Japan kept on fighting and had several more dangerous attacks down the stretch of the second half.

Abby Wambach’s final World Cup game was always going to be emotional, but a wonderful moment occurred when she took the field as a substitute in the 78th minute and Carli Lloyd gave her the captain’s armband. The crowd roared with approval, her teammates clapped and a legend took the field for one last run -- as a leader.

★★★

From “game on” to 5-2 in favor of the USA, just like that.

Photos via Dennis Grombkowski, Getty Images

The US Women’s National Team came out swing against Japan in the World Cup Final and every American athletes was loving it.

The U.S. defense has been incredible all tournament long, with centerbacks Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston forming a brick wall in front of Hope Solo’s goal. Johnston is up for the Golden Ball for her efforts, and frankly, Sauerbrunn should be up for the top player award as well. Both Ali Krieger and Meghan Klingenberg have been fantastic as well, locking down the flanks and keeping some elite attackers quiet ever since that first goal.

In the second way, you are not an ardent follower of the team, but you are aware of the players. Perhaps you watched some parts of the last World Cup, or at least read about it while you were stuck at work or school. You know the name Carli Lloyd, and you might know that she is the starting lineup’s one true lock. If this is the way Lloyd comes to be a part of your life as a sports fan, she is absolutely infuriating. “Isn’t she supposed to be good,” you ask repeatedly. “She looks like she’s never played soccer before. We seriously can’t do better than her?”

The third way that Carli Lloyd can exist in your life is the most upsetting -- as a follower of the USWNT. You’ve watched her turn in terrible performances in countless friendlies, and in the group stage of the World Cup. You think she should be dropped to the bench, even though you know what’s coming. Part of you, even though you’re a fan of this team and want them to win, hopes that she doesn’t score, just so the mystique of Carli Lloyd can go away. If she goes an entire tournament without a game-winning goal or assist, maybe then we can finally move on and replace her with someone who doesn’t make a dozen turnovers per game, ones which AYSO coaches wouldn’t tolerate.

The USWNT is just playing around at this point. Why not shoot from midfield? Might as well see what happens... oh, another goal.

This is something else.