The nation-captivating run of the United States Women’s soccer team ended in defeat.

Japan won in a shootout 2 (3) to 2(1).

The U.S. team had an early lead only to see Japan make a late goal to tie the match, sending it into a penalty kick shootout.

The U.S. women missed three of four penalty kicks and Japan won soccer’s biggest prize in a year that has seen the country face great tragedy after earthquakes and tsunamis that devastated the island nation just months ago.