USA 2-1 Japan - London 2012 Olympic Women's Football, The Final (9th August 2012)
The reigning Olympic champions USA will take on the current World champions Nadeshiko Japan in the London 2012 Olympic women's football Final on Thursday 9th August 2012 (19:45) at Wembley Stadium.
The exciting battle and WWC final replay will take place in front of a massive crowd at a superb football venue. Yesterday FIFA media reported that 83,000 tickets had been sold for the women's football final!
In the semi-finals, Japan beat France 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to progress to the final, the game delivered the fantastic contest we predicted, and although France had the majority of the chances, it was Japan that waited patiently and took the opportunities when they were presented.
For USA it was a semi-final battle (literally!) against CONCACAF rivals Canada at Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium. A game in which the winners USA, only led for 30 secs! An exhilarating match to watch, it was end to end action to the final whistle of extra time. (Alex Morgan scored in injury time making the score 4-3 to put her side through to the final). This game stirred up a lot of controversy surrounding poor decisions from the officials, physical tackles from the teams and reactions after the game - something I am sure we will discuss further.
So what does the final promise? We all remember the exciting women's world cup final, expect another close game from two teams that just never give up! In the most recent game the two sides have met (June 2012), USA beat Japan 4-1 at the Volvo Winners Cup in Sweden.
There is a lot at stake in this match, the prize for winning this epic final is an Olympic gold medal.
| USA Starting Line-up | Japan Starting Line-up |
Solo, |
Fukumoto, |
Take a look at both teams full London 2012 Olympic Women's Football squad, USA / Japan
Officials:
Referee - Bibiana Steinhaus (GER),
Assistant Referee 1 - Marina Wozniak (GER),
Assistant Referee 2 - Katrin Rafalski (GER),
4th Official - Jesica Di Iorio (ARG)
Live Match Updates:
Women's Soccer United will provide live updates on Twitter and Facebook.
You can also follow and join in with our live commentary in the comment wall below.
Broadcasts:
Details of this live broadcast will be published in the comment wall below by WSU and/or our members, we will provide as much information as we can about all the live broadcasts for the matches. Check out the full women's Olympic football schedule.
Full-time:
USA 2-1 Japan
(Lloyd 8', 54', Ogimi 63')
Highlights:
© Women's Soccer United
What are your views? Leave your comments below
Tags: 2012, 9th, August, Final, Football, Japan, London, Olympic, USA, Women's
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gromit on -
Japan and USA met four times in one year : WC Final (Japan won 2-2 a.r.t., 3-1 penalties), Algarve Cup (Japan won 1-0), Kirin Cup -draw 1-1) and the friendly played before the Olympics tournament (Usa won 4-1).
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Permalink Reply by Women's Soccer United on -
They are no strangers since the WC!
This game could go either way, so difficult to predict.
Gromit said:Japan and USA met four times in one year : WC Final (Japan won 2-2 a.r.t., 3-1 penalties), Algarve Cup (Japan won 1-0), Kirin Cup -draw 1-1) and the friendly played before the Olympics tournament (Usa won 4-1).
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Permalink Reply by Gromit on
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Right Could be/should be tight.
At the Volvo Cup (last match between the two teams with USA's win), USA played with the same team that should start the final with the probable exception of Shannon Box replaced by Carli Lloyd (who played the second time, actually, and sent the Japanese Utsugi out for good by injuring her).
The Nadeshiko played with Kaihori as a GK (it will be Fukumoto this time), and without Iwashimizu in defense and Sakaguchi in midfield.
The key for Japan will be to control (by outnumber them, as Ken explained it to us) Morgan's velocity, Rapinoe's crosses and Wambach's headers. If Rachel Buelher is only half as bad as against Canada, Ogimi and Ohno can spend some good time ;o)
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Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on -
Seeing that Japan beat Canada and France, while they drew with Sweden, the fact that on average the Americans are 5-10 cm taller and weigh considerably more than the Japanese may not matter as much as one might expect. The styles of play, behaviour on the pitch as well as the interactions between the players and the refereeing team will obviously be factors. Although it may be too much to hope for as thrilling a match as the World Cup final last year, at the same time ladies´ football can do without another controversial match.
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Permalink Reply by Gromit on
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It's noticeable that, in spite of their lack of size, the Nadeshiko often score with headers. It's a question of timing.
At the Volvo Cup, Yuki Ogimi (still Nagasato) scored with a superb header on Miyama's cross (of course). Sakaguchi scored with another beautiful header against France in spite of Soubeyrand who is 10 cm taller... And how about Miyama scoring in the same way in the middle of three Swedes including Lindhal the GK ?
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Permalink Reply by Women's Soccer United on
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Check this out for an achievement: This will be Christie Rampone's 4th Olympic final appearance
Quote from Christie Rampone on FIFA:
“To be able to play in a fourth Olympic final is just incredible, and facing Japan will a real thrill. This tournament is totally different [from the Women’s World Cup]. Since Japan won the world title, they’ve earned much more respect. The media follow them everywhere, they have more fans... and it’s great to see how the sport has grown over there, as they’re an amazing team. They’ve probably even improved since Germany 2011, but then again, so have we,”
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Permalink Reply by Gromit on
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Likely Rampone's and Wambach's last international tournament. I would be surprised to see them in Canada for the WC in 2015.
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Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on
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Because of the goalie, perhaps?
Gromit said:It's noticeable that, in spite of their lack of size, the Nadeshiko often score with headers. It's a question of timing.
At the Volvo Cup, Yuki Ogimi (still Nagasato) scored with a superb header on Miyama's cross (of course). Sakaguchi scored with another beautiful header against France in spite of Soubeyrand who is 10 cm taller... And how about Miyama scoring in the same way in the middle of three Swedes including Lindhal the GK ?
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Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on
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Pelé and Uwe Seeler both played in the 58, 62, 66 and 70 male world cups, and both scored in the 1970 world cup to boot, so Ms Rampone joins a select band of players. I daresay there have been others, though probably not in the modern game.
Women's Soccer United said:Check this out for an achievement: This will be Christie Rampone's 4th Olympic final appearance
Quote from Christie Rampone on FIFA:
“To be able to play in a fourth Olympic final is just incredible, and facing Japan will a real thrill. This tournament is totally different [from the Women’s World Cup]. Since Japan won the world title, they’ve earned much more respect. The media follow them everywhere, they have more fans... and it’s great to see how the sport has grown over there, as they’re an amazing team. They’ve probably even improved since Germany 2011, but then again, so have we,”
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Permalink Reply by A-Hamm on -
I think Wambach said after the last world cup that she wants to play in 2015. She'll be 35 I think, so its do-able. Rampone and Boxx will probably be retired.
Gromit said:Likely Rampone's and Wambach's last international tournament. I would be surprised to see them in Canada for the WC in 2015.
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Permalink Reply by Gromit on
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Even if she's still a killer in the penalty-area, particularly with her physical impact and headers, Wambach hardly runs anymore. It's ok for this tournament but the next one will be in 3 years time. Three years is a long, long time when you are already 32 and are a striker. Maybe she will be in the squad but I can't imagine her more than being a joker, a luxury sub. In football, you need to run a minimum. Again, for this time, ok. But she's already much less mobile than last year, I think.
I don't know if there was a single 35 years old forward in this tournament or at last WC. Birgit Prinz ? Unfortunately, we saw her time was over.
I wish Wambach to be fit, of course, don't misunderstand me.
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Permalink Reply by Emilios Papas on
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i just hope this is going to be a great game! so excited for tommorow :D :D :D
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