The Olympic women's soccer gold goes to the USA after defeating Japan 2-1 on Thursday, as Carli Lloyd performed at the highest level, leading her team to the their fourth gold medal in the London 2012 Olympics.
Carli Lloyd got the ball rolling literally after scoring the first goal for the U.S. at the seventh minute and scored again at the 53rd minute. Lloyd was outstanding in the match and drove the team to its gold medal.
U.S. goal keeper Hope Solo was also performing at her highest level by pulling off several world-class saves. For Japan, they'll rue their multiple missed chances, in both halves--as well as the obvious Tobin Heath first-half handball in the penalty box that officials let go unpunished.
The U.S. may also have gotten some help from German referee Bibiana Steinhaus, who appeared to miss a handball call on Tobin Heath when Aya Miyama's indirect free kick looked to have struck Heath's arm in the penalty area midway through the opening period.
The U.S. almost scored a goal in the 28th minute when defender Azusa Iwashimizu, trying to clear a ball back to keeper Miho Fukumoto, missed her completely, banking the ball off the goalpost instead.
The Japanese attempted to become the first team to win World Cup and Olympic titles in back-to-back years. They won the women's soccer gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. The Americans doled out their payback after the heartache from a penalty kick shootout in Frankfurt 13 months ago in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
All in all, American's worldwide are celebrating the score, U.S. 2, Japan 1, and redemption for the U.S. Women's National team after the heartbreak of 2011.
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