U.S. WNT Opens Olympics With Comeback Win

GLASGOW – The U.S. WNT opened their quest for an Olympic Gold Medal on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over France. They did it the hard way.

The favored Americans fell behind 2-0 in the first 15 minutes of the game and then connected on four unanswered goals, two by Alex Morgan, to secure the win.

Carli Lloyd, an early first-half substitute for injured Shannon Boxx, struck the game-winner. It was a blast that was much like the one she hit four years ago in China in the final against Brazil, which gave the U.S. the gold medal in overtime.

There was little doubt of the outcome in the second half after Lloyd put the U.S. ahead. Ten minutes after that goal, Morgan tapped in her second of the game off an assist from Tobin Heath. It was Morgan’s 18th goal of the season.

France dominated play early in the game when the U.S. marking was highly suspect and at time disorganized. Boxx, who started at defensive midfield, went out of the game right after France’s second goal. That injury brought Lloyd into the game and she came up big with the winning goal.

France lost to the United States in the semifinals of the World Cup last summer but entered having won 17 matches since.

But the Americans quickly responded, with Abby Wambach heading in a goal from Megan Rapinoe’s corner kick and Morgan running onto a bouncing punt from Solo before burying a short-range shot to tie the score, 2-2, just after the half-hour mark.

With its victory, the United States is now on course to win its group, as it will be heavily favored in the other two matches. The Americans face Colombia here Saturday, then travel to Manchester to play North Korea Tuesday at Old Trafford.