LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Hope Solo #1 of the United States makes a save against Japan during the Women's Football gold medal match on Day 13 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 9, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
WEMBLEY, England (AP) - The U.S. women's soccer team won the Olympic gold medal Thursday, avenging one of its most painful defeats with a 2-1 victory over Japan.
Carli Lloyd scored in the eighth and 54th minutes for the Americans, who lost to the Japanese in penalty kicks at last year's World Cup final.
Yuki Ogimi scored in the 63rd minute for Japan.
The U.S. team has won three consecutive Olympic titles and four of five since women's soccer was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
The match drew 80,203 fans to Wembley Stadium, breaking the record for a women's soccer game at the Olympics.
Canada won the bronze earlier Thursday, beating France 1-0.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
8/9/2012 4:36:19 PM (GMT -4:00)
Associated Press