Vancouver: Carli Lloyd became the first woman to score a hattrick in a World Cup final as she inspired the United States to a 5-2 demolition of defending champions Japan on Sunday.


USA players celebrate their victory in the final football match between USA and Japan during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup at the BC Place Stadium in Vancouver. Pic/AFP 

The United States, winners in 1991 and 1999, became the first nation to win the crown three times and avenged their loss to Japan on penalties in the 2011 final. Lloyd, 32, scored her first goal after just three minutes on the pitch at Vancouver's BC Place Stadium with the second coming two minutes later, and her third after 16 minutes. Lauren Holiday (14) and Tobin Heath (54) also found the net for the Stars and Stripes.