The Japanese denied the US team the chance to become the first country to lift the cup three times.
The Americans missed their first three penalties, and Japan went on to win the shootout 3-1 when Saki Kumagai slotted the final shot high past goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Japan was always driven by a greater purpose, hoping its success at the World Cup could provide some emotional relief for a nation still reeling from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
It paid off.
The team displayed a banner reading “To our Friends Around the World — Thank You for Your Support” before the final, and coach Norio Sasaki inspired his players before the quarterfinal win over favorite Germany by showing them pictures of the devastation.
On Sunday, the players were even more pumped us as the match approached its climax.
In a thrilling finale, 32-year-old Japan captain Homare Sawa flicked a corner through a jumble of players and past Solo with three minutes of extra time left to equalize and set up the shootout.
“We ran and ran. We were exhausted but we kept running,” said Sawa, the top scorer in the tournament with five goals.
Japan had already scored late in regulation to force extra time, and the shootout success gave Japan its first victory over the United States in 26 games.
“Not one of the players gave up,” coach Norio Sasaki said. “The penalty kicks are always a 50-50 percent chance.”
Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori did more than her part, saving the first penalty from Shannon Boxx with her foot and swatting the third kick from substitute Tobin Heath away with her gloves. In between, Carli Lloyd skied her shot over the bar.
“In a shootout, I just have to believe in myself and I was very self-confident,” Kaihori said.
For a nation which prides itself on teamwork, Kaihori didn’t need the support of her teammates in the shootout. Instead, she received it from the opposition.
The Americans missed and that was support from the Americans,” Kaihori said.
US coach Pia Sundhage was perplexed and couldn’t find an explanation for the penalty misses.
“Sometimes in, sometimes out,” she said.
Sawa received the cup and immediately went into a huddle with her players, a multitude of hands cradling the trophy, as tightly knitted together at the end of the three-week tournament as they were at its start.
“Our defense was very focused and organized. It was very much like the match against Germany,” Sasaki said, referring to the teams’ win over the hosts and two-time defending champions in the biggest upset of the tournament.
After Japan came back in the game late in regulation time, the Americans kept hustling and pressuring and it finally paid off when Alex Morgan sent a pinpoint cross to the towering Wambach in the 104th minute. The forward didn’t even have to lift a foot to send her header past goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori from six yards.
The goal gave Wambach four for the tournament, and it looked good enough for the title. She had scored in the last minute of extra time with a header against Brazil, setting up the shootout win in the quarterfinals, and a goal against France in the semifinals.
Still it left the Americans with bitter disappointment.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking. Japan played well, they never gave up,” Wambach said.
After dominating play from the start, the Americans went ahead in the 69th minute when Megan Rapinoe sent a 35-meter pass to Morgan, and the substitute hustled past Saki Kumagai to slot home with angled shot from 15 meters.
After seeing one shot hit the post and another the crossbar, the US finally managed what it had been working for against a strangely lackluster Japanese team.
Against the run of play, Japan scored a goal out of nothing in the 81st minute when American defenders Rachel Buehler and Alex Krieger failed to clear a ball, allowing star Japan player Aya Miyama to sneak in and slot home from close range past Solo.
That set up for a wild finish with both sides seeking the winner in regulation time. Japan suddenly found its passing game, threatening whenever the Americans lost the ball.
Japan - 1 x 1 1 - (3)
USA - x x x 1 - (1)
120' - Full Time - Women's World Cup final will be decided on penalties.
120' - Red card - Japan's Azusa Iwashimuzu is off.
116' - Japan are back in it! Heart-break for Abby Wambach as she concedes the own goal. The dreaded penalty kicks loom ever closer.
102' - USA get the breakthrough they've been seeking. A cross from the left is met by the head of Wambach.
90' - All square we head to extra time in Frankfurt.
80' - Japan equalize through Aya Miyama after the USA failed to deal with a dangerous ball. Japan step up their game.
71' - Alex Morgan scores for the USA giving them a crucial lead with less then twenty minutes on the clock
