Михаил, 38 - 18 июля 2011 15:27

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Japan won the women’s World Cup on Sunday for the first time, stunning the heavily favoured United States 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in extra time.

Japan was in need of a good news story after the tsunami disaster which rocked the country in March and their women’s soccer team delivered it in dramatic fashion despite being dominated for long spells in the final. “To our friends around the world – thank you for your support,” was the simple message on a giant banner the Japanese women carried around the pitch after the match. It was hard to imagine a more thrilling finale to the three-week tournament played in packed stadiums before enthusiastic crowds around the country and in front of record television audiences of up to 16 million in Germany alone.

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