President Barack Obama thrilled by America's 5-2 victory over Japan in women's World Cup at Canada; takes to Twitter to express delight
Barack Obama
Los Angeles: USA's World Cup winner Carli Lloyd has earned an invitation to the White House following her heroics in the final against Japan.
Barack Obama
Lloyd scored an incredible 13-minute hat-trick including the third from the halfway line as USA thumped the holders 5-2 in Vancouver, with the 32-year-old being named player of the tournament and finishing joint top scorer, though Germany's Celia Sasic took the Golden Boot having also scored six goals but in fewer minutes.
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Lloyd turns 33 next week but is already targeting the next World Cup in France in four years' time.
Rhythm and Blues queen Beyonce watches the USA vs Japan World Cup final clad in a soccer jersey. Pic/Beyonce Instagram
More immediately will be a trip to the White House to meet the soccer-loving family of President Barack Obama, who tweeted after the victory: "What a win for Team USA! Great game @CarliLloyd! Your country is so proud of all of you. Come visit the White House with the World Cup soon."
The midfielder has no intention of resting on her laurels however and has her sights set on defending the trophy.
A US football fan celebrates in New York. Pic/AFP
She told www.fifa.com: "I know what I've got left to achieve. I'll be going for it at the next World Cup. I think my career has gone up a level, that's for sure.
There's always room for improvement, though, and I know I have to keep on working hard." Lloyd, who plays her club football for Houston Dash, believes this team is the greatest the USA has ever produced.
Abby Wambach celebrates with wife Sarah Huffman after USA's 5-2 victory vs Japan in the Women's World Cup in Vancouver on Sunday
She added: "I'm convinced it is. What we've done is just legendary. It wasn't an easy road but we finished first and unbeaten in the so-called group of death."
"#Magisterial" and "#Rout" were just two of the comments tweeted by NBA superstar Kobe Bryant as the Americans took control with an early burst of goals in the Vancouver match.
USA forward Sydney Leroux gets a kiss from husband Dom Dwyer after the final on Sunday. Pics/AFP
"Love watching history being made," tweeted 14-time major golf champion Tiger Woods. "There is nothing like it. Go USA!"
R&B queen Beyonce tweeted a picture of herself — clad in a football jersey — watching the game on television.
USA forward Alex Morgan is kissed by a friend after the victory over Japan in the Women's World Cup at Vancouver yesterday. Pics/AFP
Across the country, fans piled into bars, decked out in red, white and blue and watched their team avenge a loss on penalties to Japan in the 2011 World Cup final in Germany.
The Americans' progress to the final had galvanised supporters back home.
The US victory over Germany in the semi-finals was the third most-watched women's football match ever with 8.4 million viewers, trailing only the USA-China final in 1999 and the USA-Japan final in 2011, US Soccer said.
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