Women's Olympic Soccer 2012: Alex Morgan Key for USWNT to Win Gold

Relatively unknown before last year's FIFA Women's World Cup, Alex Morgan has become a household name with her play for the United States Women's National Team in the 2012 Olympics.

Before the Olympics started, I wrote an article claiming Megan Rapinoe would be the team's X-factor. The semifinal against Canada on Monday was evidence of how important she is to the team, and she will still need to play well against Japan on Thursday. 

Rapinoe got the team on the board by scoring on a corner kick, which almost never happens. She managed to sneak it past a defender and the goalie on the near post, and it was just one of many wild things to happen in the instant classic.

While the midfielder is an important part of the team, Morgan will be the determining factor in the finals. 

The young forward has stepped up her game whenever her team takes on Japan. In the past year, the two teams have faced off four times. The United States is 1-2-1 against Japan in those meetings, but they won convincingly in their last meeting.

Morgan's breakout game came during last year's World Cup finals against Japan, and it looked like she had given the team enough to come away with a win twice in the game.

Her goal in the 69th minute gave Team USA a 1-0 lead, but it was not enough. She also set up Abby Wambach's goal in extra time, and it still was not enough. The forward had a chance to win the game at the end of extra time, but she was taken down just outside the box (which resulted in a red card).

The United States were unable to win the World Cup, but Morgan did her part after coming in as a sub in that game. She was inserted into the starting lineup earlier this year, and it has paid off for the team.

She has scored in two of the other three meetings against Japan for a total of three goals, and the team was shut out in the only game she did not score.

The 23-year-old is ready to take over the team, and the USWNT needs a big performance out of her in the gold medal match.

Most people have seen the dramatic goal against Canada in the 123rd minute, but it is not the first time she has come through in the clutch. In February, she scored two goals after the 88th minute to come back from a 1-0 deficit.

Baby Horse, as she is also known, will have revenge on her mind come Thursday. The team outplayed Japan in the World Cup finals last year, but now they will need to find a way to come out on top for redemption.

The USWNT defeated Japan 4-1 back in June, and Morgan scored twice in the match. They now know they can beat their rival, and they will use last year's disappointment as motivation.

The team will thrive in the spotlight, and Morgan will continue to grow as a star.

This may be the last chance for several players on the team to play in a major tournament. Wambach, Heather Mitts and Shannon Boxx are all nearing the end of their careers, so they will be motivated to go out on top. 

Morgan will be a force on this team for many years to come, and she will be the player to watch against Japan on Thursday.

As Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated tweeted on Tuesday, this game will be played in front of the largest crowd ever for an Olympic women's soccer match.

"

83,000 tickets now sold for USA-Japan Olympic women's soccer final Thursday. Will break previous Olympic women's record of 76,481 (1996).

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) August 7, 2012"

Rapinoe will not be expected to score twice again, but she will need to set up her teammates with precise passes. Her ability to distribute the ball is the reason she is so effective, and her corner kicks allow the team to get goals in key situations.

With Morgan's speed, Rapinoe can boot the ball down the field and let the forward go and get it. Morgan can fly past defenders and create gold opportunities to find the back of the net.

The United States will try to put the game away early with Wambach and Morgan, but the team may need late heroics from Baby Horse to win the gold.