In Pictures: Japan wins women’s World Cup

Photographs of the first Asian team to ever win the Women’s World Cup.

Japan Wold Cup 000

Against all the odds, Japan announced themselves to the world as a new force in women’s football by defeating the USA in the World Cup final on Sunday. The exciting final in front of a sell-out crowd in Frankfurt was a great showcase for the women’s game with the Americans and Japanese battling their way into a penalty shootout. With the score tied at 2-2 after added time, Japan went on to win the shootout 3-1 when Saki Kumagai slotted the final shot high past goalkeeper Hope Solo. 

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1) Japanese players warm up prior to the final match [Johannes Eisele/AFP]

 

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2) Fans travelled to Germany from the US and Japan to support their respective sides [Christof Stache/AFP]

 

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3) The excitement was high prior to the match [Johannes Eisele/AFP]

 

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4) Japan’s defender Saki Kumagai and USA’s midfielder Carli Lloyd (2nd R) vie for the ball during the match [Johannes Eisele/AFP]

 

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5) Japan’s goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori reaches out for the ball [Johannes Eisele/AFP]

 

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6) Homare Sawa (R) of Japan challenges Carli Lloyd of the US [Alex Domanski/Reuters]

 

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7) Japan’s head coach Norio Sasaki [Alex Domanski/Reuters]

 

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8) Alex Morgan of the US celebrates after scoring against Japan [Ralph Orlowski/Reuters]

 

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9) Japan’s defender Saki Kumagai (R) scores past US goalkeeper Hope Solo [Patrik Stollarz/AFP]

 

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10) The US lost 3-1 on penalty kicks [Christof Stache/AFP]

 

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11) Japanese players celebrate [Christof Stache/AFP]

 

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12) Japan’s players celebrate with the trophy after the victory against the US [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]

 

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12) Japan fans celebrate on a street in Tokyo [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]
Source: News Agencies