Monday Freedom Kicks: Carli Lloyd's Three Goals = America's Three Stars

Kind of amazing that the United States soccer teams can do what they do and NEVER play any games between World Cups, right? Wait, what? Oh.

The United States team defeated Japan 5-2, buoyed by a Carli Lloyd hat trick in the first FIFTEEN minutes. Recaps from us, Stars and Stripes FC, SBNation.com and MLS. Got one you liked? Throw it in the comments.

Carli Lloyd wins the Women's World Cup Golden Ball - SBNation.com: Of course she did. And if there was a doubt, first 15 minutes of the game yesterday.

Jill Ellis told us how the USWNT was going to beat Japan before the game started - SBNation.com: As much grief as she got from press and fans, a 'how ya like me now?' may be in order.

Abby Wambach's emotional video about her career is a must-watch - SBNation.com: If Abby Wambach just played her last World Cup game, it's a helluva one to go out on.

Every American athlete everywhere lost it over USWNT's absurdly dominant start - SBNation.com: Some great stuff here.

The Internet’s Best Reactions To The USA’s Dominating World Cup Performance: And more great stuff.

Oh yeah, there was club action on the men' side too! Recaps of D.C. United's 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders from us, The Washington Post, MLS (with more here) and CSN Washington. Sounder At Heart has you covered on the rave green side.

D.C. fan experience rankings - WTOP: Want to see where D.C. stacks in the five (sniff, tear) sports in town? Take a gander.

FC KANSAS CITY DEFEATS SPIRIT — Washington Spirit: Three goals, including one from former Spirit player Yael Averbuch, led FC Kansas City to a 3-0 win over the Washington Spirit. The Spirit are in third, one point behind the Chicago Red Stars and Seattle Reign, who both have games in hand.

Bienvenido Henry Lopez: In minor news, former New York Cosmos player Henry Lopez had been seeing scant time with the D.C. United U-23s, and over the break has gone back home to Guatemala to sign for Municipal, where he spent a half dozen years in their youth system. Buena suerte and such.

USMNT vs. Guatemala: Final score 4-0, Americans roll in Gold Cup tune-up - Stars and Stripes FC: Their pre-Gold Cup match was entertaining I hear? I was at a beer tasting and missed the U.S. game but saw the D.C. one, so yeah.

Former Sounder DeAndre Yedlin at center of latest dispute over solidarity payments | The Seattle Times: This may be an interesting battle ground in the future regarding Yedlin, and MLS' quotes here seem a little on the hubris side maybe?

Inside Double Pass: The Best Kept Secret in Youth Development is Coming to America: A good look at perhaps the next big thing for American soccer.

While Business and Sports Celebrated #Lovewins, the NFL Chose the Sidelines: Another reason why MLS is pretty good.

Miranda strong signing for Inter and Roberto Mancini - ESPN FC: Over on the partner club side, Inter Milan signs Miranda from Atletico Madrid, their third defensive signing this window, adding to an offseason when they got Jeison Murillo from Granada and Martin Montoya from Barcelona on loan, along with midfielder Geoffrey Kongdobia from Monaco,. Yo, Erick Thohir, while you're throwing money around...

Finally, Friday left me a little salty, so here's a supercut of people in movies giving others the finger. Go forth and Monday.