Tuesday 14 July 2015 08:54, UK
England midfielder Fara Williams rates Carli Lloyd's lob from the halfway line against Japan as one of the best goals ever scored in a World Cup final.
Lloyd’s 60-yard strike capped a 15 minute hat-trick as USA stormed to a 5-2 win, avenging the penalty shootout defeat suffered at the hands of Japan in the 2011 Women’s World Cup final.
On Monday, Lloyd’s strike was voted Goal of the Tournament and Williams says the USA midfielder – who was also named Player of the Tournament – showed her class when it mattered most.
"It was decent wasn't it," Williams, who scored from the halfway line in a FA WSL game for Liverpool Ladies against Birmingham last term, told Sky Sports.
"It’s got to be one of the best goals ever in a World Cup. I mean the fact that she hit it from the halfway line shows fantastic vision.
"She had a fantastic World Cup final and she really turned it on in the knockout stages. I mean people were criticising her and (Lauren) Holiday in midfield in USA’s first three group games, but big players turn up.
"In the last 16, quarters, semis and the final she dominated all of those games and she won it for them in the end."
Liverpool’s American goalkeeper Libby Stout says she looked on with pride after an emphatic performance in the final, which saw USA win the Women’s World Cup for the third time in their history.
"I couldn’t believe it when she (Lloyd) scored that hat-trick in 15 minutes," Stout said.
"I feel like she did it with real style and confidence and it was just great to see. Carli’s been a great player with us for the entire year and really since she’s been with the national team.
"She’s a leader and I think that’s what our team has a lot of - individuals who are really good leaders and set a good example for everybody. They really are a team of winners."
Stout has turned out for the USA U23 side in the past but is still awaiting her first call-up to the senior international squad.
The Kentuckian, who helped Liverpool to a 3-1 win at Arsenal Ladies on Sunday, admits she is now more determined than ever to force her way into USA manager Jill Ellis' plans for the future.
"I went into training at Liverpool the day after we had won it and I was like: 'Man I just want to be on that national team so bad.'
"You can see how much it means to them and how much it means to my country. It's just amazing and you'd be crazy not to want to be a part of that.
"All I can do is just do the best for my club and hopefully I will get seen by somebody. If I do get that opportunity someday it will be definitely be something special."
