USA vs. Japan 2011: 5 Reasons Japan Was Able to Pull off Epic Shocker

Team USA lost in the finals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup to Team Japan today.

Japan fought back when they were down and took the title in a penalty kick shootout.

USA had the momentum and the winning mindset to win the World Cup, but many obstacles popped up and got in their way.

How was Japan able to pull off a huge victory and win the World Cup?

Note: I am not an avid viewer of soccer and do not claim to be an expert by any means, so please do not vent on me with your criticism. I happened to notice the changes in the game play during the course of the game, and this article just showcases the opinions and thoughts of somebody who was entirely unbiased towards either team.

USA Played Too Defensively Near the End

Once the Americans got a two-goals-to-one lead, they proceeded to become passive and barely moved to Japan's side of the field with the ball when they had possession of it.

The U.S. team completely abandoned their winning strategy and allowed Japan to move back into control of the game.

For a good fifteen minutes or so, the American players just passed the ball to each other until it was eventually stolen and intercepted by someone on the opposing team.

It is not as easy for the women to continuously pass the soccer ball to their teammates without losing possession as it is for the men, and I am only saying this because in the men's World Cup, they rarely lose possession when traveling up the field before meeting the other team's defensive line.

The American team should have taken more chances and pushed their efforts to the limit.

USA Gave Japan Too Many Chances

The Americans left too many of the Japanese athletes open for passes. Players such as Christie Rampone did not read the plays well, and Japan was able to penetrate nearer to the goal.

Japan was less than a half hour away from losing, and America decided to let their opponents have another shot to tie the game and eventually win.

Also, when Japan made their way offensively onto the other half of the field, they were able to hold the ball motionless while they looked for open teammates.

Japan stayed determined and fought the whole time—it eventually paid off when USA let up.

Japan Was Able to Sneak by USA's Defensive Players

When a small hole opened up for the offensive Japanese team, they took advantage of the opportunity and had a good shot at making the ball in the goal multiple times.

The Japanese ran quickly down the field and deceived the opposite team's players, leaving more players open for goals.

The picture above was a perfect example of this: Japan sneaked their offensive line of stars in so stealthily that even Hope Solo was faked out.

Overall, Hope Solo did have a solid performance today, as did Abby Wambach. Japan just created more openings, and even though each team scored two goals before the penalty kicks, Japan outplayed the American team during the latter stages of the game.

The Americans Did Not Shoot Their Penalty Kicks Well

The penalty kicks were completely disastrous for the Americans.

They missed their first three shots, and these were very bad misses. One propelled several meters above the goal, and the other balls were kicked right towards the goalie.

America did not place their kicks well, nor did they use efficient pace. They froze up and panicked, probably thinking back to the win they could have endured just minutes beforehand.

Japan wasn't superb with their penalty kicks, either, but at least they made more than one shot in the goal. Japan's goalie also had a little bit more luck on her side than Hope Solo did in the final moments of the event.

Nevertheless, the Americans essentially choked, but it wasn't too apparent besides in the game-ending shootout.

Japan Wanted It More and USA Was Too Nervous

Surely, Abby Wambach and Hope Solo wanted to win just as much as the Japanese soccer players, but their teammates did not appear the same way.

Japan showed grit, bravery and strength to fight back, and they created momentum for themselves by tying the game at two goals apiece.

The USA team let up and could not close out, while Japan was not the better team until the level of play by the Americans faded.

The Japanese earned themselves a World Cup title by never giving up and by benefiting from their opponents' nerves. When the final ball was struck by Japan, all American fans lowered their heads and recognized not only being beat by Japan but being beat by themselves as well.

If the USA team is going to win the FIFA World Cup, they are going to have to wait until 2015, where it will be hosted in Canada.