On Thursday, the United States Women’s National Team claimed its fourth Olympic Gold Medal by besting Japan 2:1 in front of eighty-thousand spectators at Wembley Stadium. Carli Lloyd scored both goals for the USA, the first in the 8th minute, and then the eventual game-winner in the 49th. Japan got one back via the foot of Yuki Ogimi in the 63rd, but was unlucky to not have an earlier chance for the equalizer when an obvious-on-replay handling foul was not called on Tobin Heath in the 27th minute. (Obligatory BigSoccer referee forum thread link.)
In the earlier Bronze Medal match, Canada claimed its first Olympic medal on a stoppage time goal by Diana Matheson against a France team that out-shot Canada 18 to 4, but only 4 of France’s shots were on goal.
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GOLD MEDAL MATCH: United States 2, Japan 1. (NBCOlympics.com highlights)
USA Goals: Lloyd (8′, 54′).
JPN Goal: Ogimi (63′).
See Also: London2012.com page, FIFA.com page, USA write-up.
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Canada 1, France 0. (NBCOlympics.com highlights)
CAN Goal: Matheson (90+2′).
See Also: London2012.com page, FIFA.com page, CAN write-up.
MEDAL CEREMONY: NBCOlympics.com highlights (abridged, USA only)
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Women's Soccer Express 