Favored U.S. taking nothing for granted

United States midfielder Carli Lloyd (10) has scored a team-leading three goals for the Americans during the Women’s World Cup. The U.S. heads into today’s championship match against rival Japan as clear-cut favorites despite losing to the Japanese in the 2011 final.
United States midfielder Carli Lloyd (10) has scored a team-leading three goals for the Americans during the Women’s World Cup. The U.S. heads into today’s championship match against rival Japan as clear-cut favorites despite losing to the Japanese in the 2011 final.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Abby Wambach remembers the date by heart: July 17, 2011.

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AP/The Canadian Press

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo, who won the Golden Glove award for the 2011 World Cup, has put up five consecutive shutouts in this year’s event, aided by a solid defensive effort from the American team.

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AP/The Canadian Press

Abby Wambach (20), the United States’ all-time leading scorer with 183 goals, has been coming off the bench for the Americans throughout the World Cup tournament.

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AP/The Canadian Press

Mizuho Sakaguchi (6) and Nahomi Kawasumi will attempt to lead Japan to its second consecutive Women’s World Cup title. No team has ever won two in a row.

That was the day the United States lost to Japan in the Women's World Cup title match in Germany.

The Americans get a rematch today when the teams meet again in the final, this time in Canada. The U.S. women are favored, and there figures to be a mostly pro-American crowd making the short trip across the border to Vancouver's BC Place.

Wambach and the rest of her teammates say they aren't taking anything for granted. The United States, ranked No. 2 in the world, is seeking its third World Cup title.

"We still have to win. We haven't won anything yet, and we know what that feels like from four years ago," Wambach said. "It's not a good feeling."

The United States is coming off an impressive 2-0 semifinal victory over Germany, the team that had unseated the Americans for the top spot in the world rankings. Criticized at times for a lack of offense, the U.S. has posted five consecutive shutouts.

"I think we have really good momentum," said midfielder Carli Lloyd, who lead the Americans with three goals. "I think we have confidence as a group. But we need to raise our game as well. "This is the final, everything's on the line, there's no holding back. There's no reserving energy. It's full throttle."

Japan, ranked No. 4 in the world, has won each of its six matches during the month-long tournament, relying on its steady tactical skill. It is trying for its second consecutive World Cup title.

"It's the final game, the last one, so there's no more than that and we should really cherish this moment that we are going to the final," Japan Coach Norio Sasaki said. "But I would also like to have a game that would contribute to the development of football in the world."

Japan's victory over the United States four years ago was Asia's first-ever World Cup title.

The Japanese erased two one-goal deficits. Wambach scored in the 104th minute to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead, and Homare Sawa tied it 13 minutes later. Japan then prevailed 3-1 on penalty kicks.

It was an emotional victory, following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the nation in March, killing more than 20,000 people.

Before boarding the flight home from Germany, Sawa said: "I have to dedicate this win to the people who suffered the disaster."

Anchored by Hope Solo in goal, the United States' most consistent asset in the World Cup so far has been its defense.

Solo, who won the Golden Glove award for the 2011 World Cup, has put up five consecutive shutouts. She has been helped by a solid backline of Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston and Ali Krieger.

The United States has gone 513 minutes without conceding a goal. Only Australia, in the first half of the group-stage opener, has managed to score against the Americans.

It will be the U.S. team's fourth appearance in the final, having won in the first year of the tournament in 1991, and then again in 1999.

The Americans defeated China on penalty kicks in the final at the Rose Bowl.

The United States has a 24-1-6 all-time record against Japan, and a 2-1 advantage in World Cup meetings.

This is the third major women's soccer tournament where Japan has played the United States in the final. The countries also met in the gold-medal match at the 2012 Olympics, which the Americans won 2-1.

Sports on 07/05/2015

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