Japan Wins Women's World Cup Final; U.S. Still Has Champion Moments

COMMENTARY | The gutsy playing of Japan saw the team through as the 2011 Women's World Cup winners. However, the U.S. team didn't leave the field in Germany without having some champion-caliber moments that kept those of us watching riveted to the match. The U.S. played a game that fans can be proud of, even after the disappointment of turning a 2-2 tie into a 3-1 loss by penalty kicks.

Setting the pace

The U.S. World Cup soccer team set the pace early in the first half, with forward Lauren Cheney charging into the left of the box within the first minute. Japan managed a save, but the U.S. continued to drive the field relentlessly, not giving its opponent maneuver room. The U.S. dominated the field like winners throughout the strangely scoreless first half, not afraid to go in close and take the ball back from Japan.

Not rattled by missed opportunity

The U.S outnumbered Japan in scoring opportunities the first half but failed to get the ball in. The team impressively refused to let missed goals, including a wincing bar-thumper by Abby Wambach, rattle its resolve. They found success in the second half with Alex Morgan scoring the first goal of the match. It takes a champion team to keep driving for success in the face of failure.

Giving it all in extra-time

Japan answered the U.S. goal with one of its own, throwing the game into gut-wrenching extra-time. The U.S. pressed on, holding ownership of the field, when Wambach scored. I thought it was surely a win for the U.S. The team controlled the field like champions throughout the match and certainly outplayed Japan.

How quickly that feeling of elation changed to disbelief, and respect for the spunky Japanese team, as Homare Sawa scored and the game went to penalty kicks. The U.S. missed three and Japan sunk three for the World Cup title. While respecting Japan's win, we should still be proud of the U.S. Women's team. They may not have come out of the match as the winners, but played like true champions.