Carli Lloyd exploded in the first 16 minutes of the Women’s World Cup Final by scoring three goals for a natural hat trick as part of a massive onslaught by the US against Japan.
Four years after losing in the World Cup Final to Japan, the USWNT came out on a mission of revenge. Lloyd scored in the third minute, fifth minute and again in the 16th minute against Japan. Her three goals were the most ever scored by a player in a World Cup Final. Sandwiched in between her second and third goals was a score by Lauren Holiday. Add it all up and the US led 4-0 in the first 16 minutes.
The three goals gave Lloyd six for the tournament, tying her with Celia Sasic for the Golden Boot, though Sasic won via tiebreaker.
Here is the first goal:
GOAL #USA! CARLI LLOYD CHARGES ONTO THE END OF A CORNER KICK. #USA 1 #JPN 0 in the third minute https://t.co/JGaGlBK7ga
— HuffPost Sports (@HuffPostSports) July 5, 2015
Her second goal:
Second goal #USA #WorldCupFinal
https://t.co/FOHirfkp67
— Soccer Problems (@SoccerFouls) July 5, 2015
And here is Lloyd’s third goal, which might be the most impressive of all:
WHAT. A. GOAL. https://t.co/vsp2kHYmla
— Alex Torres (@alextorresww) July 5, 2015
The US won 5-2, thanks largely to Lloyd’s incredible effort.
