Japan win reminiscent of 1999 US Women’s World Cup Team

Japan won the Women's World Cup in stunning fashion on Sunday, outshooting the US Women 3-1 on penalty kicks, after two surprising comebacks.

The win was reminiscent of the US Women's win over China in 1999, when the US played China to a scoreless draw, before beating them 5-4 on penalty kicks.

In that game, Brandi Chastain became a soccer legend, scoring the winning goal. The iconic image of her celebration in which she pulled her jersey and slid down to her knees is still one of the most defining moments in sports.

Although Japan's winning shot and celebration wasn't as jubilant as the 1999 US team, the game was perhaps even more exciting than the one in 1999.

After Alex Morgan of the US scored a superb goal in the 69th minute, Japan was running out of time to come back.

But in the 80th minute, a defensive lapse by the US women, allowed Aya Miyama of Japan to tie the score 1-1.

Still, the US Women looked like the better team and could handle the Japanese women in overtime.

That was proven when Abby Wambach scored with a spectacular header in the 104th minute off Morgan's perfectly placed cross in front of the goal.

The fighting Japanese came back though on a corner kick, when Homare Sawa's goal off of Yukari Kinga's chip, tied the game at 2-2 once again.

Once the shootout began, it was Japanese goalie Ayumi Kaihori moment to shine, when three straight American kickers failed to convert on the shootout.

It proved to be a deficit that was too much, as Japan only missed one goal, beating the US Women 3-1 in the shootout with Saki Kumagai kicking the winning shot.

The 2011 World Cup win was an inspiring moment for a country devastated by a deadly earthquake on March 11. It was a victory that will be remembered in the hearts and minds of the Japanese people just like the US Women gave the United States in 1999.