FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 (champions - Japan)
Japan won their first world title in the host nation's own tournament: 2-2 with USA after 120 minutes at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt on 17 July 2011, then victory on penalties. Homare Sawa's side ended Germany's run of successive titles and USA's pursuit of a third star.
Why this wins its question: The 2-2 scoreline before the shoot-out is routinely lost in summaries that record only "Japan beat USA on penalties", which hides that Japan came from behind twice. Bound to FIFA's own final-by-final account.
Claims
Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.
Japan and USA drew 2-2 after 120 minutes in the 2011 Women's World Cup final at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt on Sunday 17 July 2011, and Japan won the penalty shoot-out to claim their first Women's World Cup, denying USA a third title.
Hosts Germany, twice defending champions, went out during the tournament, ending their run of successive titles; FIFA credits the winning Japan side, led by Homare Sawa, with a modern, controlled, touch-based game.