US Women's Soccer Defeats Japan 2-1 to Win Gold Medal

For the United States women's soccer team, revenge is a dish best served gold.

The U.S. avenged its 2011 World Cup final loss to Japan, beating the Japanese 2-1 in the gold-medal game. 

Carli Lloyd put the U.S. up in just the 10th minute, heading in an Alex Morgan cross, and the U.S. women did well to control the ball early in the first half, beating the Japanese at their own possession game.

But the Japanese had several excellent chances in the first half and hit the post on more than one occasion, keeping Hope Solo busy throughout. The U.S. also got away with a handball in the box, when the ref failed to notice Tobin Heath's extended arm blocking a Japanese free kick.

The United States went to halftime with a 1-0 lead, but the momentum had seemed to shift to the Japanese side late in the half.

But it would be the United States who would strike early again in the second half, as Lloyd would notch her second goal in the 55th minute with an absolute blast from just outside the box.

That lead wouldn't last long, as the Japanese would notch a tally on a Yuki Ogimi goal in the 63rd minute after a scramble in front of the net. But Hope Solo would preserve it late, making a brilliant stop on a point-blank shot by Mana Iwabuchi after a turnover by Christie Rampone nearly led to a goal.

There perhaps will be some grumblings in this one that the officiating once again favored the United States, as Japan probably should have earned two penalty kicks for the Heath handball and another after Rachel Buehler bear-hugged a Japanese attacker in the box off a cross. 

But while the Japanese hit the post or were foiled by Hope Solo, the United States found the back of the net. Revenge was served. A fourth gold medal for the United States women since 1996 has been won.

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