The last time that United States Women's Soccer team won the World Cup, they defeated China in a defensive battle, winning 1-0 in penalty kicks. On Sunday night, things were less tense. 

Team U.S.A routed the defending champions Japan 5-2, scoring four goals in the first 16 minutes, three by Carli Lloyd, dominating Japan in most every statistical category. Tobin Heath recorded a goal and two assists for the U.S. while Lauren Holiday was credited the eventual winning goal, also garnering an assist.  

Lloyd's hat trick was the first ever in a Women's World Cup final and the fastest in Women's World Cup history. 

Leading up to the game, the general consensus was that in order to have a good chance, Japan would have to avoid giving the United States set pieces. They were unable to do this, allowing two Lloyd goals off of set pieces in the first five minutes. Heath's goal, the fifth of the game for team U.S.A, was the backbreaker for Japan and also came off of a set piece.

The United States, after scoring just nine goals in six World Cup games thus far, shocked everyone by scoring twice in two minutes. The first came on a Megan Rapinoe corner kick. The ball soared into the middle and Lloyd was able the redirect it into the net, past Japan goalie Ayumi Kaihori (3 saves). Two minutes later, it was Lloyd again; Lauren Holiday took a free kick from the left side of the Japanese goalie box. Her kick sent the ball into the middle where Heath used her head to deflect the ball to Lloyd who tapped it past the diving Kaihori for her second goal, in just the fifth minute of the game.

Japan settled down briefly but couldn't contain the offensive monster that was the United States women's soccer squad. In the 14th minute, Heath sent a long ball into the goalie box. In a valiant attempt to clear it, a Japanese defender headed it, but the ball went straight up in the air. Holiday rushed underneath it and volleyed it up and over Kaihori. Just two minutes later, Lloyd stole the ball at midfield and noticed that Kaihori had wandered to the edge of the goalie's box, watching the play. Lloyd sent a booming kick from just past the midfield line. Kaihori rushed back in a desperate attempt. She got her hand on the ball but was unable to push it far enough, as the ball rolled into the corner of the net for a 4-0 USA lead.

It was a shocking start but there was no quit in Japan. The Japanese got back to their game and dominated the last 20 minutes of the first half. However, they only cracked the spectacular USA defense once, on Yuki Ogimi's goal in the 27th minute. It was 4-1 heading into halftime. Japan came out strong and dominated the first seven minutes of the second half, scoring in the 52nd minute. This time it was Japanese star Aya Miyama sending a free kick into the U.S. defensive zone from 40 yards out. USA's Julie Johnston tried to knock it out of the way, but caught the ball on the backside of her head, sending it out of the reach of USA goalie Hope Solo (seven saves). 

It appeared that Japan might make a game of it until Tobin Heath scored just two minutes later, off of another corner kick.  Lauren Holiday took the kick and sent it through the middle. It appeared to go out of the danger zone but Morgan Brian knocked it back in front of the goal. Tobin Heath easily tapped the ball into an open net as Kaihori had rushed to the far post to try and help clear the ball. 

Japan managed to sustain decent offensive pressure but never again scored on a U.S. defense that was anchored by Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston and Ali Krieger. They had allowed just one goal in the tournament, and none since the first game. 

Japan, who shocked USA in the 2011 final, coming back from one-goal deficits twice and then winning in penalty kicks, played well over the final 70 minutes, but the early hole they found themselves in was too much to overcome. 

Several players from both squads were awarded with individual awards after the game. Carli Lloyd took home two offensive awards. She was awarded the silver boot as the player with the second most points in the tournament as well as the Gold Ball, as the tournament MVP. Hope Solo won the Gold Glove as the tournament's most outstanding goalie for the second straight World Cup. Japan's Aya Miyama took home the Bronze Boot, as the player with the third most points in the tournament.