"Nadeshiko" the Champ - なでしこ勝った！

At 3:30 in the morning, the large part of Japan was awake because of FIFA Women's final match. I had thought the chance of winning against US was rather slim, as much as say 20%, but I woke up to cheer like everybody else.
US played far better than Japan in any angle in the beginning, but we were lucky as the first half ended with no goals. It was indeed like a live lesson not to give up until the luck smiles to you. US goalkeeper Solo was taking time for her injury when the overtime left only 5 minutes, and it looked normal that 2-1 would be the end result in this situation, but the following corner-kick was magically redirected into the goal by Homare Sawa to even the score. Nadeshiko girls surely bring the brightest souvenir back home.


凄いことをやってくれましたね。アメリカに勝つチャンスはせいぜい2割くらいと思いつつ、寝ないでテレビの前にかじりつく。スピード、スペース、パス、プレスなど、出だしからすべての面で米国が優位に立っていたが、前半を0-0で折り返せたのが良かった。まさに諦めたらツキは来ないというお手本みたいな試合だった。延長戦残り5分でキーパーのソロが怪我の治療で時間を使い、敗色濃厚な状況で見せた沢の同点ゴールはかなり難しい角度でセンターリングに合わせた高等技術だった。ワールドカップ優勝だよ！