Early Misses Haunt United States As Japan Wins 2011 World Cup

Well that certainly wasn't the result most of us were expecting, as hats off to Japan for defeating the United States women's soccer team for the first time en route to winning the 2011 Women's World Cup.

Japan's path of destiny just seemed a bit stronger than that of the United States, as they defeated the United States 2-2 (3-1) in penalty kicks. From an American perspective though it is a bitter defeat as they were the better squad much of the evening in Frankfurt.

The United States seemed poised for the win after Abby Wambach's header put the American on top in the 104th minute, just prior to the break in extra time. However Japan, backed against the wall, answered in the 117th minute on a goal from Homare Sawa, her fifth goal in six World Cup matches. The goal the tied that match came perfectly set up on a corner kick. Prior to the corner, American keeper Hope Solo had been knocked to the ground with an apparent injury. She toughed it out, but when it came to the penalty kicks it made you wonder if she was at full strength.

Once it got to the pk's it was all Japan as they bested the American with three goals to one for the United States in taking the 2011 World Cup. Congrats to a country that has gone through so much in recent months.

Just when it appeared the United States was on their way to their third woman's World Cup title, Aya Miyama scored in the 81st minute as Japan has now knotted the score at one. The Americans got caught up in a bad defensive formation and Miyama was able to put one past Hope Solo.

After the goal, the Japanese clearly found a boost of confidence as they were able to make it some tense moments for the American faithful. In the 90th minute Japan's Mizuho Sakaguchi attempted a shot just left of the goal before the United States came down for one final offensive chance before extra time. But alas 90 minutes was not enough, so we will have 30 more.

As we head into the extra time, the United States will still have two substitutions while Japan has one left to use. The United Stats is 22-0-3 all-time against Japan in woman's soccer, but none of that matters now as none of the previous meetings have ever meant as much as this one.

Well we finally have our first goal in the 69th minute as Megan Rapinoe found a charging Alex Morgan who raced past the Japan defense for a shot past keeper Ayumi Kahori for the lead. It came right after the Americans got the benefit off an offside call when Japan's Shinobu Ohno got past the United States defense and had an apparent one on one with keeper Hope Solo.

For Alex Morgan, 22, the youngest player on the American squad, it was her second goal in five matches. With under 20 minutes to goal in the match, Japan will become more aggressive on defense so they can set up their attack in hopes of squaring up the match.

You can start to hear the American crowd really get behind their squad as the United States is now in the 74th minute of the match as I type this. It shall be a great ending.

Not much to talk about at half as there is no score for either side, but the United States missed several chances in the first half to capitalize and take the lead. The U.S. and Japan each have just one shot on goal, however the Americans have taken 14 shots in the first half compared to just six for Japan.

It's been a clean match thus far, with no cards on either side and just two corner kicks a piece. The United States will want to come out aggressive like at the beginning of the match and try to take the lead, meanwhile as Japan continues to stick around they certainly are raising the level of their own confidence.

Among the many scoring chances for the United States in the first half, the best may have been Abby Wambach's shot from the right side in the 28th minute which hit off the woodwork. It looked like a sure goal, but the woodwork can often be cruel to a player.

The United States will be bringing in Alex Morgan at halftime to replace forward Lauren Cheney.