Japan players lift the trophy in celebration after stunning the US in Sunday's Women's World Cup final in Frankfurt, Germany. Japan won its first world soccer title on penalty kicks, 3-1, after the teams finished regulation and extra time tied 2-2.
 

Japan players celebrate with the trophy after coming from behind twice to beat the US for the first time in 26 meetings. ''Not one of the players gave up,'' said Coach Norio Sasaki, who inspired his players before a quarterfinal by showing them pictures of the country's tsunami devastation. ''The penalty kicks are always a 50-50 percent chance.''

United States goalkeeper Hope Solo reacts during the penalty shootout. The US lost on PKs, 3-1. Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath all failed to convert for the Americans, who squandered dozens of chances throughout the match and blew a lead just six minutes from winning their third World Cup title.

The United States' Abby Wambach (20) and goalkeeper Hope Solo hold their personal awards after the final. Wambach won the bronze boot as the third-highest goal scorer of the tournament, while Solo was the most outstanding goalkeeper. ''This is obviously going to hurt for a while,'' Wambach said.

The US was off the mark all day against Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori, banging shots off the crossbar and the near post.

Japan's Mizuho Sakaguchi competes for the ball with the United States' Megan Rapinoe (left) and Carli Lloyd during the final.
 

Japan's Shinobu Ohno (left) and the United States' Megan Rapinoe compete for the ball during the final.

Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori (second from bottom) grabs the ball after a failed US scoring chance during the final.

The United States' Alex Morgan (left) scores the opening goal past Japan's Saki Kumagai in the 69th minute. Morgan beat three defenders to catch up to a long pass, shook Kumagai, touched the ball once with her right foot, stutter-stepped and then delivered a left-footed blast from 17 yards that goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori had no chance at stopping.

The United States' Alex Morgan, who replaced an injured Lauren Cheney at halftime, celebrates her second goal of the tournament.
 

Japan's Aya Miyama (center on the pitch) scores the equalizer past United States goalkeeper Hope Solo with about nine minutes left. After the US failed to clear the ball, it fell to Miyama, who poked it in from five yards to tie it.

Japan's Aya Miyama is congratulated by teammates after she tied the match 1-1.

The United States' Abby Wambach celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the final in the 104th minute off a header.

Abby Wambach celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the final. Wambach was camped in front of the goal on the 6-yard line. Standing a head taller — and then some — from defenders on either side of her, she needed only to nod the ball into the net.

Japan's Homare Sawa (center) celebrates scoring her side's second goal on a corner kick in the 117th minute. It was the fifth goal of the tournament for Sawa, playing in her fifth World Cup. ''We ran and ran,'' she said. ''We were exhausted, but we kept running.''

Japan's Saki Kumagai scores the decisive goal past United States goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Hope Solo was the most outstanding goalkeeper of the tournament, but she couldn't save the day for the US.

Japan's Saki Kumagai celebrates scoring the decisive goal.

Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori (right) and Saki Kumagai hug after winning the final.

Japan celebrates its first victory over the United States in 26 meetings.

Fans of the US come out to support their team and hopefully see a repeat of the 1999 magic.

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, watches the match.
 

A young fan of Japan sees history made by the underdog team.
 

Japan didn't have the look of a team that was just happy to be there, and the players went out and made history.
 

The Americans were all smiles before the match.

Performers hold flags of countries that participated in the tournament as others form a soccer ball during a ceremony prior to the final match.