Olympics: USA 2-1 Japan – US Women Take Gold As 80,000 People Stay To Boo Sepp Blatter in Unison (Photos & Highlights)

Chris Wright

10th, August 2012

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By Chris Wright

Carli Lloyd scored twice in front of a record 80,203 crowd at Wembley as the USA women’s side won their fourth (and third consecutive) Olympic gold by beating Japan 2-1 in the final. Of the last four Olympic tournaments, only Norway back at Sydney 2000 have disrupted the American dominance.

Japan hit the US woodwork twice, their own once and had a clear penalty wafted away as a frantic second half saw them create and spurn chance after chance, until Yuki Ogimi tapped home from about 30cm out to give her side a lifeline. Reigning Young Asian Player of the Year, 17-year old Mana Iwabuchi almost pulled Japan level in the dying moments, but her curling effort was spectacularly palmed away by a flying Hope Solo – who later deliberately removed her gloves to get the Nike swoosh in all the team celebration photos. Yuck.

Anyway, what followed was just about the most ridiculously long medal ceremony you’ll ever bear witness to, as the US, Japan and third-place Canada all lined up to receive their requisite trinkets – made bearable by the fact that 80,000 people stayed inside Wembley just to boo Sepp Blatter for the entire duration (skip to 3:10m)…

Huzzah!

Photos…

Highlights…

Photos: PA/Video via @James_Dart