Aug. 9, 2012

LONDON - Former Golden Bear Alex Morgan and the U.S. Women's National Team defeated Japan 2-1 to win gold on Thursday at the London Olympics. Morgan - a four-year letterwinner with the California women's soccer team - assisted on the Americans' first goal.

The Americans jumped to a 2-0 lead in Thursday's final at Wembley Stadium, and the Japanese could only half the deficit with a goal in the 63rd minute.

In the eighth minute, Morgan received the ball from Tobin Heath, then one-touched the ball before sending it over the keeper to find Carli Lloyd, who headed it in for the first score.

Lloyd gave the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the 54th minute, scoring after a 25-yard run. The Japanese got on the board with a goal in the 63rd minute, when Yuki Ogimi scored.

The USA has won gold in four out of the five Olympic women's soccer tournaments that have been contested previously while also taking a silver medal in 2000.

Thursday's game was a rematch of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, which saw the Japanese emerge victoriously on penalty kicks. The Americans advanced to the final game after defeating Canada in overtime. The Japanese defeated France 2-1 in the other semifinal. The Canadians took bronze after beating France 1-0 on Thursday.

An incredible 80,203 fans watched the game at Wembley Stadium, setting an Olympic record for a women's soccer game. The 90,185 that watched the U.S. women win the historic 1999 World Cup at the Rose Bowl is the world record.

The U.S. WNT will savor the moment of Olympic gold and then return to the home front starting in September. The team kicks off its victory tour when it hosts Costa Rica on Sept. 1 in Abby Wambach's hometown of Rochester, N.Y., at Sahlen's Stadium (2:30 p.m. ET). The U.S. will then face Australia on Sept. 16 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. (12:30 p.m. ET). Both matches will be broadcast live on NBC.