Olympic Soccer Scores 2012: Showcasing Pivotal Moments from USA vs Japan

The United States Women's National Team captured its third straight gold medal by beating Japan 2-1 on Thursday.

The Americans avenged last year's World Cup loss to Japan in impressive fashion. They played well from the get-go, and they survived a Japanese clinic on passing and how to hold possession.

If you would like to read through the entire match as it happened, be sure to check out Beau Dure's live blog from during the game. Otherwise, here are the biggest moments in the biggest women's soccer match of the year.

The United States needed an early goal to gain some confidence in their attack, and Carli Lloyd provided the magic in the eighth minute.

Tobin Heath brought it up the field and found Alex Morgan at the near post. After a quick move, Morgan played the ball into the middle, and Lloyd flew in front of Abby Wambach and knocked the ball into the goal.

It was an early spark that might not have affected Japan mentally, but it was a huge lift for the Americans.

After dropping too deep and keeping a Japanese attacker onside, Christie Rampone saved the day in the 17th minute.

The score was almost leveled quickly after the United States took the lead, but Rampone wouldn't let that happen. She helped maintain the lead, which proved pivotal for the Americans.

Shortly after the Christie Rampone save, Hope Solo made a great save of her own.

Again, it was imperative for the Americans to keep their lead, and Solo rose to the occasion. The defense let her down, but she made sure to keep the team in it. The ball seemed to be past her, but she was able to reach up and knock the ball off the frame of the goal.

Goalkeepers can change games, and Solo made the first of her great saves this early in the match.

The United States can't seem to avoid controversy in the box.

Despite no call, it certainly looked like Tobin Heath was guilty of getting a hand on the ball in the box. Japan's efforts on goal just can't seem to find the net, even if a hand helped prevent an attempt from getting on frame.

Unfortunately, I don't have a picture or video of it so Heath will have to do.

Aya Miyama was left enough space to get a good shot off in the 33rd minute, but the Japanese frustration continued as she hit the crossbar.

At this point, Japan had done enough to earn a goal, but the Americans' luck continued. The United States seemed to always have a last line, even if it was the woodwork in this case.

As composed as Japan played, their frustration had to grow at this juncture, and it could've affected their play for the rest of the half. I can't say that for sure, but it certainly couldn't have helped.

Carli Lloyd doubled the United States' lead with a long-distance shot in the 54th minute.

Suddenly, the seemingly better side, Japan, was looking at a brutal deficit. Given they had hit the woodwork enough times to be leading, Lloyd's second goal was backbreaking.

Japan needed to turn things around quickly because the game was slipping out of their grasp.

Once again, Christie Rampone pulled a ball off the line. Unfortunately for the United States, her ensuing clearance was atrocious.

Homare Sawa made a brilliant play to touch the ball across the frame of goal to a waiting Yuki Ogimi. With a defender bearing down on her, Ogimi calmly one-touched the ball into the back of the net.

It was a slightly sloppy goal, but Japan had done more than enough to deserve it. Suddenly, the game was in doubt for the United States.

Christie Rampone better thank Hope Solo.

Despite being the last defender, Rampone dawdled with the ball and turned it over deep in her defensive third. Asuna Tanaka dispossessed Rampone and took it to goal. Surely, she would find the equalizer.

Instead, Solo made a spectacular save as Tanaka tried curling a shot into the back post. Sure, Tanaka could've done better, but Solo did make a remarkable, full-extension save to prevent Japan from leveling.

After this, the match wound down without much happening. Japan seemed tired and dejected after seeing chance after chance go awry. Essentially, this Solo save secured gold for the USWNT.