Japan beat USA on penalties to win women's World Cup

Japan twice came from behind to win the Women’s World Cup for the first time, beating the US 3-1 on a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished 2-2 in extra-time.

Captain Homare Sawa, who won the Golden Boot and the player-of-the-tournament award, struck the equaliser in the 117th minute to keep Japan in the game after US striker Abby Wambach’s had put her team ahead early in extra-time as the two sides were locked 1-1 at over 90 minutes.

In the dramatic shoot-out, Japan goal-keeper Ayumi Kaihori saved two penalties before defender Saki Kumagai hit the winning spot-kick.

The US had taken the lead in the second-half of normal time courtesy striker Alex Morgan’s sublime strike, but Japan’s Aya Miyama poached the equaliser after a mix-up in the American defence in the 81st minute.

This was Japan’s first win over the Americans at the 26th time of trying and was heartbreak for the Stars and Stripes as they missed out on a third World Cup title despite dominating Japan for large periods of the game.