Alex Morgan of Diamond Bar scored a dramatic extra-time winner Monday in Manchester, England, to set up a rematch of the 2011 World Cup Final, a match watched closely by many in the Redlands-Loma Linda area.
Morgan scored in the 123rd minute of a tied match, allowing the U.S. to avoid penalties and defeat Canada 4-3 in a 2012 Olympics semifinal.
The result ensured the U.S. will face Japan at London's Wembley Stadium in the gold medal match that airs in Redlands and Loma Linda at 11:45 a.m. PDT Thursday Aug. 9.
In the World Cup Final on July 17, 2011, in Frankfurt, Germany, Japan tied the U.S. 2-2 in extra time and defeated the Americans 3-1 on penalties.
Supporters packed the on Orange Street that day, and people elsewhere in the Redlands-Loma Linda area watched the nailbiting finish.
Several soccer players from , including Morgan, are with the U.S. Women's National Team as they go for an historic fourth Olympics gold.
U.S. 2012 Olympics Roster:
1 Goalkeeper Hope Solo, 30, of Richland, Wash.
2 Defender Heather Mitts, 34, of Cincinnati, Ohio
3 Defender Christie Rampone, 37, of Point Pleasant, N.J.
4 Defender Becky Sauerbrunn, 27, of St. Louis, Mo.
5 Defender Kelley O’Hara, 23, of Fayetteville, Ga.
6 Defender Amy LePeilbet, 30, of Crystal Lake, Ill.
7 Midfielder Shannon Boxx, 35, of Redondo Beach, Calif.
8 Midfielder Amy Rodriguez, 25, of Lake Forest, Calif.
9 Midfielder Heather O’Reilly, 27, of East Brunswick, N.J.
10 Midfielder Carli Lloyd, 30, of Delran, N.J.
11 Forward Sydney Leroux, 22, of Los Angeles, Calif.
12 Forward Lauren Cheney, 24, of Indianapolis, Ind.
13 Forward Alex Morgan, 23, of Diamond Bar, Calif.
14 Forward Abby Wambach, 32, of Rochester, N.Y.
15 Midfielder Megan Rapinoe, 27, of Redding, Calif.
16 Defender Rachel Buehler, 26, of Del Mar, Calif.
17 Midfielder Tobin Heath, 24, of Basking Ridge, N.J.
18 Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, 30, of Gilbertsville, Pa.
Women's soccer debuted as an Olympic sport in 1996. The U.S. women won gold in 1996, 2004 and 2008. The Americans also won the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991 and 1999.
For more information on U.S. Women's Soccer, visit www.ussoccer.com, and for more information about the 2012 Summer Olympics, visit www.london2012.com.
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