Japan took full advantage of the USA's failure to take their chances by twice coming from behind to become FIFA Women's World Cup champions after extra time and penalties. The Americans missed a host of chances in the first half and whilst they did score twice after the interval they allowed Japan back into the game and with the score at 2-2 after extra-time then failed with their first three penalties for Japan, and Asia, to claim the title for the first time.
Alex Morgan had given the Stars and Stripes the lead on 69 minutes only for Aya Miyama to level and extra-time.
Again the USA took the lead with Abby Wambach but Japan battled back to take the game into a penalty shoot-out as Homare Sawa equalised three minutes from the end of extra time.
And defender Saki Kumagai then hit home the decisive spot-kick.
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (GER)
Venue: Frankfurt, Germany Attendance: 48,817
Japan scorers: Aya MIYAMA 81, Homare SAWA, 117 USA scorers: Alex MORGAN 69, Abby WAMBACH, 104 USA (4-4-2): 1-Hope Solo; 11-Ali Krieger, 3-Christie Rampone, 19-Rachel Buehler, 6-Amy LePeilbet; 9-Heather O'Reilly, 7-Shannon Boxx, 10-Carli Lloyd, 15-Megan Rapinoe; 12-Lauren Cheney; 20-Abby Wambach.
Substitutes Mitts Lindsey Barnhart O'Hara Heath Rodriguez Sauerbrunn Cox Morgan Loyden
JAPAN (4-4-2): 21-Ayumi Kaihori; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Azusa Iwashimizu, 4-Saki Kumagai, 15-Aya Sameshima; 11-Shinobu Ohno, 6-Mizuho Sakaguchi, 10-Homare Sawa, 8-Aya Miyama; 7-Kozue Ando, 9-Nahomi Kawasumi.
Substitutes Yamago Yano Fukumoto Utsugi Kamionobe Nagasato Takase Tanaka Maruyama Iwabuchi
