lloyd 3, United States 3

Carli lloyd lives for the big moment. She had her biggest on Sunday night — and gave the United States its record third Women’s World Cup title.

lloyd scored three times as the US jumped to a four-goal lead in the first 16 minutes, and the Americans overwhelmed defending champion Japan 5-2 for the team’s first World Cup championship since 1999.

A sellout crowd of 53,341 that included US Vice President Joe Biden roared in approval for lloyd’s hat trick, the first in a Women’s World Cup final. “It’s been a long journey, my career. I’ve had a lot of people believe in me, in my corner, from day one,” said the midfielder, who turns 33 on July 16. “I’ve dedicated my whole life to this. Everything else comes second. But I wouldn’t want to do it any other way.”

When it was over, lloyd collapsed to her knees and pumped her fists. Forward Abby Wambach bear-hugged teary-eyed coach Jill Ellis, lifting her off the ground.  lloyd, awarded the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, scored twice in a span of about 135 seconds as the US led 2-0 by the fifth minute.

lauren Holiday boosted the lead in the 14th, and two minutes later lloyd made it 4-0 with an audacious 54-yard, right-footed shot from midfield that sailed over goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori.

Japan closed on Yuki Ogimi’s goal in the 27th and an own goal by Julie Johnston on an errant header in the 52nd. Tobin Heath scored two minutes later, the third goal off a restart for the Americans. While winning the last three Olympic gold medals, the U.S. had struggled in the World Cup since taking the title at the inaugural tournament in 1991 and then again at the Rose Bowl eight years later.

Christie Rampone, the only holdover from the 1999 team, lifted the trophy with Wambach, the 35-year-old former FIFA Player of the Year who has said this will be her last World Cup. Wambach was among the most vocal opponents of FIFA’sdecision to play the tournament on artificial turf. With FIFA President Sepp Blatter staying away from Canada during a U.S. criminal investigation of soccer corruption, the trophy was presented by FIFA Senior Vice President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon, the head of African soccer’s governing body.

Hope Solo won her second straight Golden Glove as top goalkeeper of the tournament. She played despite critics who urged the US Soccer Federation to drop her after she initially faced two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence from a June 2014 altercation at her half-sister’s house, charges that were dismissed earlier this year. 

Solo, who hasn’t spoken to the media for most of the tournament, proclaimed simply: “We did it! Awesome!” The title, which adds a coveted third star to the American uniform, also vindicated the USSF for its decision in April 2014 to fire coach Tom Sermanni, who had replaced Pia Sundhage the previous year, and replace him with Ellis, the British-born American who had been an assistant on coaching staff.

Ellis’ tactics and lineups were criticized early in the World Cup tournament when the US offense sputtered at times on offense. She shifted lloyd to an attacking midfielder in the semifinal against top-ranked Germany and again in the final, and put 22-year-old Morgan Brian, the youngest player on her roster, in a defensive midfield role.

“I want to thank Jill,” lloyd said. “I know lots of people out in the stands were worried about us. We all held together. We all stayed the course. We all executed the game plan.”