Lloyd of London, Delran leads U.S.
Philabuster is a blog about Philadelphia sports written by Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Phil Sheridan.
Lloyd of London, Delran leads U.S.
Phil Sheridan, Inquirer Columnist
LONDON – Put an Olympic gold medal on the table and watch Carli Lloyd go.
Four years after scoring the gold-winning goal in Beijing, Lloyd of London outdid herself. The Delran native scored both U.S. goals in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Japan. The win earned the U.S. women a gold medal and payback for Japan’s victory over them in last year’s World Cup final.
On Wednesday, Lloyd was asked about teammate Abby Wambach’s prediction that somebody “will become a legend” with a big goal in the final.
“I know I would be thrilled if I got one in the back of the net,” Lloyd said.
It took her only eight minutes to do it. Alex Morgan, who scored the game-winner in overtime in the semifinal against Canada, found herself pinned along the endline. She flipped the ball across the goal mouth, apparently looking for Wambach on the far side. Wambach raised her foot.
But Lloyd slid in front of her, heading the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. The U.S. held on to that lead through the first half. In the second, Lloyd made it 2-0. This time, she ran free through the middle of the field and fired a perfect shot that slipped just inside the left post.
The U.S. needed both goals. Japan put intense pressure on the U.S. defense. Hope Solo made several fantastic saves. Team captain Christie Rampone, of Point Pleasant, saved one shot. Amy LePeilbet blocked another.
Yuki Ogimi, robbed several times by Solo, finally scored late in the half. Japan atayed on the attack, but the Americans survived.
In your face Japan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— road515- Awesome.— Jerome99RIP
- Bogus win . . . Tobin Heath's handball was obvious and had to be called.— shane-56
- VALID POINT. THEY WERE LUCKY TODAY. ONE QUESTION: HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO ONLY SCORE 2 GOALS WHEN THE OPPONENT'S GOALIE IS ONLY 4' 11" TALL??? — bedpan
- Hey, we're in Philly. So many "what ifs", so many "could've, should've, would've"s in my lifetime as a sports fan. Guess what? The women's team is not giving their gold medals back. Enjoy it.— road515
- They nipped them.Good!— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- ^well played— Handsome B. Wonderful
- Alex Morgan is the next soccer superstar!!— recGUY
Comment removed.- Leave the shirts on, please.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Comment removed.
- The continued dominance of US Women's Soccer in the sport is amazing. Winning is a part of the team's culture, having taken 4 out of the 5 Olympics in which women's football has been an event, two of six World Cup championships (and placing no lower than third in any of them), and six of eight CONCACAF Gold Cup titles, defeating teams with much lengthier histories of dominance in this sport. I don't think the US has come close to appreciating how great of a dynasty this team is. Nice to have local talent competing on the global stage, too.— Jerry D. NE
