U.S. lose World Cup final in dramatic penalty shoot-out

The U.S. women's football team have failed to lift the Women's World Cup after they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out 3-1 by Japan after a 2-2 draw in the final today.Abby Wambach scored the second goal in the first half of extra-time, heading in a fine cross from Alex Morgan - who put the ball in the net herself in the 69th minute to give the U.S. the lead.But Japan hit back with a strike from Aya Miyama with nine minutes to go to force the game into extra time, and then equalised when Homare Sawa's dramatic late goal sent the game to penalties.

Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath all failed to convert for the Americans, who squandered dozens of chances throughout the game and blew a lead just six minutes from winning their third World Cup title.'This is obviously going to hurt for a while,' said Abby Wambach, whose only hole in her glittering career is the World Cup title.

Japan had not beaten the Americans in their first 25 meetings, including a pair of 2-0 losses in warm-up games a month before the World Cup.After being presented with the gold trophy, Japan's players jumped up and down on the podium, then gathered behind a sign reading 'Champions. World Champions'.The victory brings an emotio

It's been 12 years since the United States has won the World Cup, and this team was certain they were the ones to break the drought.The road to the final in Frankfurt, Germany, for the U.S. soccer team was bumpy, with them having to win a play-off eight months ago just to get to the tournament.Today the U.S. - ranked first in the world and the defending Olympic champions - wanted the ultimate finish to their improbable journey by delighting a country of new-found fans.

But it’s been a tough trek to Germany, after they had to beat Italy in a two-game playoff for the very last spot in the World Cup – and were stunned in regional qualifying last year by Mexico.

They opened the year with a loss to Sweden, fell to England for the first time in 22 years and lost to Sweden again in the tournament group stages - their first loss ever in World Cup group play.

‘In the past, we'd always won everything,’ U.S. captain and defender Christie Rampone, of Boca Raton magicJack, said. ‘Those losses made our team what it is today. ‘We need each other and you feel that, from the locker room to the time we step on the field.’