U.S. wins women's soccer gold medal, avenging World Cup defeat with victory over Japan

Carli Lloyd (10) of United States celebrates with Kelley O'Hara (5) and Shannon Boxx (7) after scoring in the second half against Japan during the Women's Football gold medal match on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 2012 in London, England. / Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

(AP) WEMBLEY, England - Hope Solo found herself enveloped in a group hug at the final whistle. Abby Wambach ran to join the fun in a celebration that unleashed a year of bottled-up frustration.

The U.S. women's soccer team won its third straight Olympic gold medal Thursday, beating Japan 2-1 in a rematch of last year's World Cup final and avenging the most painful loss in its history.

Carli Lloyd scored early in both halves, Solo leaped and dived to make saves, and the entire roster found the redemption it had been seeking since that penalty kick shootout loss in Germany last summer.

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U.S. women win 3rd straight soccer gold

Before 80,203 at Wembley Stadium, a record crowd for a women's soccer game at the Olympics, the teams put on a back-and-forth, don't-turn-your-head soccer showcase, proving again that these are the two premier teams in the world. Women's soccer is still in its formative stages in Britain, but the match proved more than worthy for the hallowed grounds of the beautiful game.

And the Japanese perhaps played just as beautifully as the Americans, using their speed and discipline to dominate possession and scoring chances for long stretches before finally cutting a 2-0 deficit in half with about a half-hour to go.

Back home, America was paying attention — just as it was last year and despite the rest of the Olympic events. Even President Barack Obama, during a campaign speech at Colorado College during the second half of the game, noted that, "The women are doing pretty good right now in soccer."

Lloyd's goals came in eighth and 54th minutes, making it four goals in the tournament for the midfielder who lost her long-held starting job weeks before the Olympics. She got back on the pitch when Shannon Boxx injured her hamstring in the opening game and started every game since.

Yuki Ogimi answered in the 63rd minute, and Asuna Tanaka nearly had the equalizer in the 83rd — only to be thwarted when Solo flung her entire body to the left to push the ball away.

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Hope Solo

The U.S. team has won four of the five Olympic titles since women's soccer was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games, settling for mere silver at the 2000 Games in Sydney.

In the first half, Japan was unfortunate not to have a penalty kick awarded for a clear hand ball by U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath, who stuck out her left arm to stop a free kick inside the area.

Japan also had two shots hit the crossbar, one off the left hand of a leaping Solo, who was kept consistently busy for the first time this tournament. The closest the U.S. came to doubling the lead in the first 45 minutes came when Azusa Iwashimizu attempted to clear a routine ball played in front of the net — and headed it off the post.

The U.S. goal in the eighth minute began with a run by Heath down the left side. She fed Alex Morgan, who settled the ball near the goal line, spun and chipped it toward Wambach. Wambach raised her left foot for the shot, but Lloyd charged in and got to it first, her strong running header beating goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto from 6 yards out.

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Alex Morgan

Lloyd extended the lead with a 20-yard right-footer just inside the left post after a long run with the ball through the middle of the Japanese defense.

Ogimi soon cut the deficit to one after a mad scramble in front of the net. Captain Christie Rampone saved a shot off the line, but the ball went to Homare Sawa, who fed Ogimi for the tap-in.

Another scramble followed after U.S. defender Amy LePeilbet saved yet another shot off the line in the 74th minute, but this time her teammates were able to corral the ball before a Japanese player could pounce on it.

Boxx was back into the starting lineup after the missing four games with the hamstring injury. Lauren Cheney, who injured an ankle in the semifinals, began the game on the bench for the first time this tournament.

Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday, beating France 1-0 at Coventry.

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London Olympics: Aug. 9, 2012

[opedanderson2]

Bah!
Canada deserved that Gold. They were ROBBED!!!

[michaelz06]

Yes, stepping on opponents, and then whining about how the refs stole the match away is certainly worthy of a gold medal.....

[MagnaCartaUK]

I'm an avid football fan, but have never taken much notice of the ladies part of the sport. Consequently the names of their top players mean little, but I've been impressed by the standards, tactical awareness, and technique in the few matches I have managed to see during the past two weeks or so. Perhaps it'll raise the profile of women's football, and receive funding to support it. As for this final, congratulations go to the U.S. on picking up gold; I'm just jealous having never stepped onto the hallowed turf of Wembley myself. Respect!

[lissx0o]

Congrats to USA! Japan played an excellent game as well and both teams are amazing. I cant believe the ref let that handball by USA at the 26th minute go without penalty.. unfortunate for Japan i must say.

[Kaiteuk]

Congratulations to the US Women's Soccer team on their victory and winning the goal medal. In sports, however, a win is just that...and in the context of any competition, it's a moment when one team has performed at the peak of its ability and better than its opponent. Winning in sports has nothing to do with avenging anything, as the writer of this article expresses his/her opinion in such combative terms. Vengeance has no place in the world of sports. Kudos to the US Women's Soccer team on a well-earned victory.

[Dukme]

You're absolutely right Kaiteuk that there is no avenging anything here. The US was a better team today as Japan was a better team at the World Cup. The US media tends to blow the news event out of proportion instead of just reporting exactly as it is.

[AZDesertRose]

You are so right!!

[rmm26a]

Is one of their players Guile from Street Fighter 2? Good job dude!!!

[JackInDelaware]

Re: " U.S. wins women's soccer gold medal " !! Excellent and Congratulations! ..... Gee, I wonder where all those snide, nasty comments are now from that ultimate loser Brandi " Look at Me ! Look At Me !! " Chastain are now ! lol

[stupa5]

You Go Girls!