U.S. Kicks Off Olympics with Win
- Updated: July 26, 2012
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan celebrate during Wednesday’s 4-2 win over France. (Photo: Angie Isac/SportPix)
The U.S. Women’s National team kicked off their 2012 London Olympic Games campaign with a 4-2 victory over France in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Early on in the match, it appeared as though the French were going to get revenge for the 3-1 loss they suffered to the U.S. in the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup. In just the 12th minute, Gaetane Thiney converted to give the French an early lead. Just two minutes later, Marie-Laure Delie doubled the French advantage.
U.S. coach Pia Sundhage took off Shannon Boxx for Carli Lloyd in hopes of the restructuring the midfield. The change paid off, as U.S. pulled one back in the 18th minute. Abby Wambach finished a feed from Megan Rapinoe to cut the French lead in half and pull the U.S. within one.
In the 31st minute, the U.S. struck again through Alex Morgan, who ran onto a pass from goalkeeper Hope Solo and put the ball into the net to tie the game.
Lloyd scored the game-winner in the 55th, finishing another feed from Rapinoe. The U.S. doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Morgan scored her second goal of the game after being setup by Tobin Heath.
With their first win, the U.S. lead Group G in the women’s football tournament. They will play Colombia on Saturday and then round out group play against Korea DPR next Tuesday.
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