USA vs. North Korea Women's Olympic Soccer: 6 Things We Learned

It wasn't pretty, but they're still perfect.

The United States women's soccer team made it three wins in three matches, blanking North Korea 1-0 at Manchester United's Old Trafford on Tuesday at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Veteran forward Abby Wambach scored the only goal in the 25th minute, and the US held on as North Korea rarely threatened the rest of the way.

The narrow win will hardly qualify as Team USA's finest performance of the Olympics so far. But that won't matter.

After a perfect run through group play, coach Pia Sundhage's team now heads to the quarterfinals as the winner of Group G.

And, just maybe, the US women are the favorites to win gold.

Read on for six things we learned from Tuesday's match.

Irresistible Combination

Abby Wambach scored again Tuesday, sweeping home the game's only goal in the 25th minute. That makes three goals for the veteran striker, who has scored in each match so far.

Fellow forward Alex Morgan provided the assist with a smart final pass under pressure in the North Korea box.

All in all, the play illustrated how well Morgan and Wambach work together.

Tall, strong and formidable in the air, Wambach perpetually wins headers at all points on the pitch, scores with her head and feet and flicks passes on to Morgan.

Morgan, meanwhile, is fast, tricky and creative. She can slip in and out of the box, burn defenders with pace and score goals either as a poacher or with high style.

Together, the form an almost perfect partnership up top for the US.

Tuesday, however, was all about Wambach and her goal.

"

Wambach is 17 goals behind Mia Hamm in NINETY fewer games. That's unreal. Why isn't she as famous?

— Brian Straus (@BrianStraus) July 31, 2012"

Going for It

All of Team USA's big stars started again Tuesday despite the fact that the US had already qualified for the quarterfinals.

That fact suggests how important finishing as group winners was to coach Pia Sundhage and the players.

The US could play six games in 16 days if they reach either the gold-medal match or bronze-medal match.

If that happens, it's likely all the key regulars will have their share of bumps and bruises along the way.

Rapinoe Key in Midfield

One of those key players who started Tuesday was wide midfielder Megan Rapinoe.

Rapinoe was subbed out at halftime without scoring or assisting a goal, but she once again demonstrated her value to the US team.

Early in the match, Rapinoe combined with a couple teammates and burst down the left flank to deliver a dangerous cross. Throughout the half, she was a vital fulcrum of the attack.

In fact, it might be time to wonder whether Rapinoe deserves a spot among the likes of Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Lauren Cheney and Hope Solo as a key leader of this team.

"

3 - #USWNT's Megan Rapinoe is tied for the Olympics 2012 lead with 3 assists (Hammarstrom, Sweden; Necib, France). Dish.

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) July 31, 2012"

The Accidental Midfield Rock

It's hard not to like the story of Carli Lloyd.

A bench player in the first US match of the Olympic tournament, the 30-year-old midfielder entered the France match in the first half after an injury to Shannon Boxx.

Since then, Lloyd hasn't looked back.

Lloyd performed well again Tuesday for the US, and in doing so, she further cemented her spot in the lineup.

"

135 - #USWNT's Carli Lloyd leads all Americans with 135 passes attempted, and 115 passes completed thus far at 2012 Olympics. Active.

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) July 31, 2012"

And others have noticed.

"I'm impressed with the way she's handled it," goalkeeper Hope Solo told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "She's a leader on this team. She's a rock."

The Favorite?

After a perfect run through group play, the United States might just be the favorite to win Olympic gold.

Tuesday's win maintained the team's 100 percent record, a mark only Brazil or Great Britain can hope to match (they were playing each other later Tuesday).

And after an early scare against France, the US has scored eight goals while allowing none.

The offense is purring, the defense is holding together and the players boast a healthy amount of confidence. Japan won the Women's World Cup last year, beating the US in the final, but Homare Sawa and company finished only second in Group F, behind Sweden.

Besides, the US has won the last two gold medals and three of the four in the history of the women's game.

So why shouldn't the US be considered the favorite?

For Once, the Wave Was Cool

Let's face it, the wave has earned its dodgy reputation in the sports world. It's hard to imagine a worse way to watch any sporting event live.

Sometimes, though, it can be cool. Case in point: the US women's celebration after Abby Wambach's winning goal.

That's just part of the power of the US women's national team.

Follow @MikeCummings37