Alex Morgan Will Be Too Strong for Japan in Gold Medal Match

Alex Morgan and Team USA saw themselves in this position just one year ago.

Frankfurt, Germany was the venue. The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup title was on the line.

The United States lost the final 3-2 on penalty kicks, but not without a strong fight from Morgan. In front of 48,817 looking on, she scored the game's first goal in the 69th minute to put the Americans up 1-0. 

After closing out extra time at two goals a piece, USA's dream fell just short. The Japanese women scored three out of four times on Hope Solo to bring the hardware back to a grieving nation.

Morgan was inserted into the starting lineup the following January, and she hasn't relinquished her spot since.

The first rematch between the two national teams took place March 5th, and Japan took that game as well, 1-0. The U.S. looked to be dead in the water in the 73rd minute, staring another loss to the Japanese women right in the eye.

Until Morgan had other thoughts. She equaled the score at one with a goal off a play that was originally ruled to be offsides, but then rightfully corrected by Chinese referee Li Juan.

Morgan and team USA had some adjustments to make, and you can be sure they made them.

April 1st was the next meeting between the two, which ended in a 1-1 tie. Alex Morgan scored the only goal for the US. It was a small step forward, but a vital step in on becoming better than the team that has beat them in their last two meetings. 

On June 18, 2012 in Sweden, USA regained momentum, and Morgan led the charge. She scored two goals in a 4-1 victory over the defending Women's World Cup champions—her first off great passes from her USA teammates, and the second after a beautiful display of defense, stealing the ball away then charging past three Japan defenders for the goal.

Add these performances up, and you have numbers to defend the fact that Japan will not be able to handle Alex Morgan, who's heating up at just the right time, following her late goal versus Canada in the semifinal round to give USA the win.

She has four goals in her last four games versus Japan.

She leads the national team in 2012 scores with 20 in as many games.

Her career total is up to 30 goals in 47 caps.

When it comes down to the numbers, there's no way you can argue that Alex Morgan will dominate Japan in London's gold medal match.