US women, fans celebrate WC triumph

AFP, LOS ANGELES: Thousands of cheering fans turned a section of downtown Los Angeles into a sea of red, white and blue Tuesday in celebrating the US victory in the Women’s World Cup.
Waving flags and chanting “U-S-A, U-S-A,” spectators began arriving at 5 a.m. outside Staples Centre arena to get a prime position at the front of the stage to cheer their beloved football heroes after their record third World Cup title and first in 16 years.
“Every day we call ourselves champions and it never gets old,” Carli Lloyd, voted the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, told the crowd.
Lloyd scored three times as the United States roared to a four-goal lead in the first 16 minutes en route to a 5-2 demolition of Japan in Sunday’s final in Vancouver.
“I know 1999 was a huge turning point for women’s soccer,” Lloyd said. “We have just crushed history. There is no greater time to win the World Cup.”
Two days after taking the crown, the party was still going as the team flew to Los Angeles following their historic triumph. The next travel to New York for another rally and a tickertape parade down the “Canyon of Heroes.”
Players took the stage in front of a crowd of about 4,000 just after 11 a.m. and they danced, sang, gave speeches and took photos.
Vendors sold souvenir shirts, shorts and hats, fans draped flags around their shoulders and wore red white and blue clothing while others held up signs that read “Long Live the Queens” and “Party Like It Is 1999.”

US women, fans celebrate WC triumph

AFP, LOS ANGELES: Thousands of cheering fans turned a section of downtown Los Angeles into a sea of red, white and blue Tuesday in celebrating the US victory in the Womens World Cup. Waving flags and chanting U-S-A, U-S-A, spectators began arriving at 5 a.m. outside Staples Centre arena to get a prime position at the front of the stage to cheer their beloved football heroes after their record third World Cup title and first in 16 years. Every day we call ourselves champions and it never gets old, Carli Lloyd, voted the Golden Ball as player of the tournament, told the crowd. Lloyd scored three times as the United States roared to a four-goal lead in the first 16 minutes en route to a 5-2 demolition of Japan in Sundays final in Vancouver. I know 1999 was a huge turning point for womens soccer, Lloyd said. We have just crushed history. There is no greater time to win the World Cup. Two days after taking the crown, the party was still going as the team flew to Los Angeles following their historic triumph. The next travel to New York for another rally and a tickertape parade down the Canyon of Heroes. Players took the stage in front of a crowd of about 4,000 just after 11 a.m. and they danced, sang, gave speeches and took photos. Vendors sold souvenir shirts, shorts and hats, fans draped flags around their shoulders and wore red white and blue clothing while others held up signs that read Long Live the Queens and Party Like It Is 1999.