It was a day of soccer never to be forgotten. Not the game, not just the score, not only the outcome, but more importantly, its meaning.

Japan defeated the US in the Women's World Cup championship game in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday. It was everything you could ever want in the final game of the tournament, and then it was even more.

90-minutes of regulation, with end-to-end action. Tons of scoring chances early. Then 30-minutes of overtime. Followed by the agonizing 5-player shootout to determine a winner.

The outcome had much more meaning that just the celebration at mid-field, when the Japanese side shook hands with the defeated Americans, and then were presented the "Gold Cup", symbolic of supremacy in the sport.

A fascinated television audience in the states had seen Team USA come back from near elimination in a quarterfinal game against vaunted Brazil. They survived a two goal performance from South American legend Marta. Just 12-seconds from elimination, they scored on a header by American hero Abby Wambach to tie the game. They then won it in overtime on penalty kicks.

The US stormed thru France, firing 27-shots on goal, tallying two critical goals in a one minute span, to send them onto the championship game.

Sunday came up rainy in Germany, and the American poured shot-after-shot on Japan's goalie early in the game. They hit two crossbars on shots that could have gone in. They rammed two open shots off the post, missing by inches from blowing the game apart. Three times they had rebound shots with the net open, but fired shots high over the crossbar.

America did everything but put the ball in the net and put the game away. Japan was struggling, but methodically, never lost its composure. They were down 1-0 and came back to tie. Then in overtime, they trailed 2-1, but fought back to score again, forcing penalty kicks. They won it there.

The emotional pendulum swung back and forth all day long. There was firepower, there was fury, there were flurries, there were amazing saves, and there were defensive breakdowns.

Lauren Chaney missed an open net on a deflection shot. Wambach blasted one that hit the crossbar. Megan Rapinoe had a wide open net, but missed a deflection on a pass. Shannon Boxx blasted a high shot that hit the crossbar above the head of the beaten goalie. Rapinoe hit the post from a close in-angle shot. Wambach nailed the crossbar with another scorcher of a shot. Chaney had a header that went over the crossbar. Wambach was robbed of a goal on a diving save. And Alex Morgan fired a shot off a deflection, again hitting the post. On-and-on, lots of shots, no scores.

It was breathtaking to watch the execution and the opportunism. It was deflating when you saw so many chances go away empty.

Great teams hang tough when the going gets tough, and so did Japan. They matched the resiliency of the US team.

The US got the lead finally in the second half, when Alex Morgan took a 70-yard lead pass and scored off a left foot blast at the 69-minute mark. You thought America was home free. The lead and only 20-minutes left in regulation. Not so, Japan tied it at the 81-minute mark when the US turned the ball over on defense right in front of goalie Hope Solo.

Onto overtime, and the US took the lead on another Abby Wambach specialty, a header from close-in at the 103-minute mark. But Japan tied it again on a deflection off a corner kick, tying it again, this time 3-minutes from the end over overtime at the 117-minute mark.

Regulation over, Overtime over. Penalty kicks next. Fireplug Japanese keeper Ayu Kaihori made saves on 3-American shots. American goalie Hope Solo wilted, allowing 3-goals. Japan smiled. The US cried. It was over.

But as they hugged each other before the trophy presentation, you really came to understand what Sunday nights win in Germany meant.

The Japanese coach, in the quiet of his lockeroom, said only one thing before the game began. He brought photos of the devastation of the tsunami. He told his team, "this is who you are playing for"

And right before kickoff, Japan's players held up a banner behind their bench for all to see. "World, thank you for helping out country".

Suddenly the chants of USA-USA took on less of a meaning. Immediately, goals and saves were not as important, as things back home.

Team USA was on an amazing run. As exciting as the 1999 American victory fueled by Mia Hamm, Julie Foughty, Brandy Chastain and that team. But this game took on more meaning than just trying to duplicate what happened that time.

I was stunned at the loss. I felt for Team USA for how hard they tried, how close they came. But a different feeling overwhelmed me as I watched all the gold streamers come down on the stage as the trophy was presented.

I flashbacked to watching CNN live in the middle of the night, as the torrents of those terrible waves tore thru towns, cities, farms. I ached knowing the death and destruction that was taking place. I felt as helpless as I did on the morning of 9-11 watching lives die in the towers.

I prayed for Japan and its suffering that first week. I felt like cheering for Japan on Sunday night. That World Cup win may bring some shunshine to a stricken nation. The win was more than just a soccer victory. I hope it means more to that country today.