Olympics: US women celebrate football gold

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The USA were playing in their fifth successive final, having lost just one of the previous four, while Japan were in their very first.

Both sides had survived scares in the semis, the USA coming from behind three times to beat Canada in extra-time, and Japan weathering a second-half onslaught against France.

Carli Lloyd was the United States' Olympic hero again as they avenged their World Cup final defeat by Japan and took gold at Wembley with a 2-1 win on Thursday.

Yuki Ogimi pulled a goal back for Japan, who had plenty of chances to equalise and were denied by the woodwork as they failed in a bid to add the Olympic title to their world crown.

Lloyd's brilliant two goals in the final were enough for the USA to complete a hat-trick of Olympic titles, as the midfielder added to her winner in the 2008 final.