How sweet it is: U.S. women's soccer dominates Olympics, earns redemption

Redemption. Revenge. Whatever you want to call it, everyone in the United States knows what you’re talking about.

Ever since women’s soccer was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1996, the United States has been in the gold medal match all five years, and have taken home gold now four of the five times. Their only loss: 2000 in Sydney, Australia against Norway.

This year, the United States didn’t make it easy on themselves. Drama might not even be enough to describe their journey to gold over the course of the two weeks in London.

Two days before the opening ceremonies, the United States started their run to gold against a very strong French team. Early on, it looked gloomy for the Americans, as France netted two goals before a quarter of an hour had even passed. But in typical United States fashion, they battled back. Goals from Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan tied it at two before halftime, and the United States flexed their muscles with two more in the second half to take the match, 4-2.

Three days later, they took on Colombia in a “chippy” match that saw Abby Wambach get sucker-punched in the face in minute 39. However, she would later score the second of three goals on the day for the United States as they downed Colombia by a final of 3-0 to clinch a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals with another game to go in the group stage.

Fast-forward three days again, as the United States took on the relatively unknown North Koreans. Ranked in the top 10 in the world, the North Koreans played the United States tightly, and had their chances later in the match when U.S. coach Pia Sundhage instructed her team to slow the pace of play to stay fresh for the quarterfinals. Wambach again netted the only goal in minute 25, as the United States defeated North Korea, 1-0, to win their group. This year’s Olympic games is the first time America swept the group stage, winning all three matches.

As the tournament turned to its “win or go home” stage, New Zealand stood in the way of a birth in the semifinals. Wambach (yet again) scored the first goal, and Sydney Lereux netted the insurance as the United States advanced to the semis.

Now awaiting was our rivals to the north. Canada, a team that “flopped” just a year ago in the 2011 World Cup, surprised everyone in advancing to the semifinals. The match started as a showdown between Canadian superstar Christine Sinclair and American midfielder Megan Rapinoe. Sinclair scored in the first half to break the ice, but Rapinoe tallied on a corner kick that curled just inside the near post to tie it at one early in the second half. A flurry of goals followed. First from Sinclair, then Rapinoe, then Sinclair again to make it 3-2 in favor of Canada with 17 minutes to go. As if the game wasn’t weird enough to this point, Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod was called on one of the rarest calls ever made in soccer. Her penalty? Holding on to the ball longer than the allowed six seconds, and the United States was awarded an indirect free kick inside the penalty box. Rapinoe took the kick, which found the hand on a Canadian defender Marie-Eve Nault. Wambach put away the penalty kick that tied the game at three and sent it to extra time.

In stoppage time of extra time, the United States found lightning in a bottle yet again in the 123^rd minute. Shades of the 2011 World Cup match against Brazil showed through, as Heather O’Reilly sent a ball into the box that found Alex Morgan’s head and went to the back of the net to seal the game for the United States.

Then came the finals. And Japan was waiting for a rematch of the 2011 World Cup final. Similar to the 2011 final, the United States came out quick. The difference this time was a ball actually found the back of the net, as the United States went up 1-0 in the 8^th minute.

Then it all changed. Japan looked like the team looking for redemption. Numerous chances for Japan put the United States back line on their heels, but Hope Solo showed why she’s the best goalkeeper in the world, as she made save after save to preserve the one goal lead. Shortly after halftime, Carli Lloyd put a laser just inside the left post to give the United States a two goal lead.

Japan notched their lone goal in the 63^rd minute, setting up the final act that was the last 30 minutes. Hope Solo again came up huge, specifically in the 83^rd minute when she stopped a ball that had goal written all over it.

As the final whistle blew, coach Pia Sundhage turned to the crowd, threw her hands in the air, and the party began.

The mutual respect between these two teams is a breath of fresh air, as you don’t normally see the respect we see between these two teams in international soccer. There was nothing chippy about the game. It was just pure skill and a will to win on display.

Not one single player carried the United States through the tournament. It was truly a team effort. To play six games in 16 days, it has to be a team effort. So many stars shined brightly for the United States. Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Christie Rampone.

And in the end, 389 days after falling in a penalty shootout to the very same Japan team in the 2011 World Cup, the United States comes out on top to take home the gold medal. Redemption. Revenge. Whatever it is. Oh how sweet it is!