With the Gold At Stake, Who Else But Carli Lloyd?

   It's now been eight years since someone not named Carli Lloyd scored for the United States in the women's Olympic gold medal game.  After notching the lone goal in the 1-0 overtime win against Brazil in 2008, Lloyd today accounted for all the American scoring in a tense 2-1 victory over Japan.

   The match was played before 80,203 at the hallowed Wembley Stadium in London.  It was the fourth gold for the United States in five tournaments.

   Lloyd got the U.S. off to a quick start by heading in a ball in the 8th minute.  Former U.S. men's coach Bob Bradley gave this analysis in the New York Times.  The U.S. dodged a bullet in the 27th minute when Tobin Heath appeared to handle the ball in the box.  But the referee declined to call he penalty.

   Nine minutes into the second half Lloyd scored what proved to be the game winner from 20 yards.  Fer her efforts she was named the Bud Light woman of the match.  After not starting the opener against France Lloyd came off the bench when Shannon Boxx was injured and scored the ultimate game winner, then tallied another goal against Columbia before her heroics today. 

   I was at work and followed the game on both the U.S. Soccer and the Times website.  While the Times does an excellent job covering soccer, it had some trouble with Lloyd''s first goal.  First it reported that Abby Wambach scored it, then said it was Boxx before finally naming Lloyd as the scorer.  But who else would score for the U.S. in the gold medal game?