TOKYO — Caroline Zhang and Rachael Flatt have led the United States to the World Team Trophy figure skating championship on Saturday.

Zhang, the 2007 world junior champion, finished third in the women's free skate while Flatt placed fourth to secure the win for the Americans.

"I'm very happy," said Zhang, who was fourth after the short program. "It wasn't the best performance overall, but I think the technical points of the program were good."

Japan's Mao Asada won the women's free skate with 126.03 points followed by world silver medalist Joannie Rochette of Canada with 120.08 points. It was a better showing for Asada coming off a disappointing fourth in the world championships last month.

The United States won the three-day event with 60 points, followed by Canada with 54 and Japan with 50.

World champion Evan Lysacek won the men's free skate on Friday to give the U.S. a six-point lead heading into the final day of competition.

"I'm very proud of our team," Lysacek said. "We fed off each other's motivation and for Caroline and Rachael to come out like that today and pull up spots was amazing."

The inaugural World Team Trophy features the six best figure skating teams of the 2008-09 season. Qualifying along with the United States, Japan and Canada were Russia, France and China.

Zhang, skating to "Ave Maria," successfully completed all her elements, hitting seven triple jumps for a total of 116.80 points. Flatt, the 2008 world junior champion, skated a solid program but was downgraded on two combination jumps and finished the free skate with 113.41 points.

Any hope for a Japanese comeback was dashed when world bronze medalist Miki Ando struggled in her free skate and finished fifth. Ando fell on a triple salchow early in her routine and was unable to recover.

Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China won the pairs free skate.