2012 - SOCCER

UNITED STATES 2012 SOCCER OLYMPIC MEDAL

Women

Team

Hope Solo Heather Mitts Christie Rampone Becky Sauerbrunn Kelley O'Hara Amy LePeilbet Shannon Boxx Amy Rodriguez Heather O'Reilly Carli Lloyd Sydney Leroux Lauren Cheney Alex Morgan Abby Wambach Megan Rapinoe Rachel Buehler Tobin Heath Nicole Barnhart

The United States confirmed its favoritism and won the Olympic gold medal in women's football tournament again, this time in London, UK. By other hand, the U.S. men's team failed to qualify for the Olympics. MEN. The United States didn't qualify its men team to the London Olympics. WOMEN. The United States confirmed its favoritism and they won the Olympic gold medal for the fourth time out in five tournaments. Since 1996, the U.S. women's team only failed to win the gold medal at the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, when they were defeated by Norway. In London-2012, the United States won all of its 6 games. In the first round, the US defeated France (4-2), Colombia (3-0) and North Korea (1-0). In the quarter-finals, US overcame New Zealand (2-0). In the semifinals, the U.S. defeated Canada (4-3) in a dramatic game. The United States were losing the game by 3-2 but canadian goalkeeper failed to put the ball in the game before 6 seconds, breaking a game's rule. On the ensuing play another controversial handball call was made against the Canadian side awarding the American team a penalty kick, which Abby Wambach converted to tie the game at 3–3. After that, US team scored one more goal and won the game. In the final game against Japan, US team was favored by a unmarked penalte after Tobin Heath put his hand on the ball, despite the claim by Japanese players. The United States followed the game and US had no difficulty in defeating Japan by 2-1, reversing the defeat in the final game of the 2011 World Championships. Abby Wambach, with 5 goals, Carli Lloyd, with 4 goals, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, with 3 goals each one, were the main players of the US team, together goalkeeper Hope Solo.