The U.S. women’s scintillating FIFA World Cup triumph over Japan Sunday was a feel-good moment in a summer afflicted by racial violence, terror attacks and international economic chaos, and based on record-shattering television ratings it should remove any doubt that Americans are ready to embrace soccer as a major sport.

More than 20 million viewers tuned in — exceeding the number who watched last month’s men’s NBA championship game or pro hockey’s Stanley Cup final — making the telecast the most-viewed soccer game in U.S. history, for men or women.

Ratings aside, the 5-2 victory reinforced all the enriching aspects of organized competition — teamwork, athleticism and pure joy in a game considered the world’s most popular sport, played by nearly a quarter-billion people but until now overshadowed in the United States by football, baseball and basketball.

For attention-deficit disordered Americans who have long complained about soccer’s traditionally low scores, Sunday’s seven goals not only equaled a World Cup record but delivered an electrifying jolt right from the get-go.

A scant three minutes into the game captain Carli Lloyd scored her first goal, followed by another two minutes later and another at minute 16 — the fastest hat trick ever — thrilling tens of thousands of Americans in the stands at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with millions watching on TV at home and in packed bars across the country.

We were especially pleased that the U.S. team won decisively — not by a penalty kick or shootout after a scoreless tie, or by a goal kicked accidentally into the wrong net, as was the case in Japan’s semifinal victory over England that left the poor British player feeling more deflated than one of Tom Brady’s footballs.

The game was also a triumph for scandal-ridden FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, world soccer’s governing body), under investigation for bribery accusations involving the selection of World Cup sites, and redemption, of sorts, for U.S. goalie Hope Solo, almost booted off the team last year following charges, later dismissed, of domestic violence.

Captain Lloyd was gracious in accepting both the Silver Boot and Golden Ball (for diehard American football fans, the equivalent of the Vince Lombardi trophy), calling it a team victory.

Well done, American women. We got a kick out of watching you.