UPDATE: Team USA Wins Gold In Soccer Against Japan

UPDATED: 5:53 p.m. EST

The crowd was sold out, the expectations were high, and revenge was on the minds of the members of the USA Olympic women's soccer team, in light of the U.S.'s World Cup loss to Japan last year. The Americans took that energy and drop kicked it right into a 2-1 victory over Japan in front of a record 80,203 fans on Thursday afternoon.

After a 2012 Olympics chock-full of Alex Morgan victories and highlights, it was goalkeeper Hope Solo's chance to shine in the finals game, during which she swiftly deflected goal after goal, helping earn Team USA the gold medal.

In addition to Solo, player Carli Lloyd stood out, sinking the two goals that gave Team USA their win.

12:41 p.m., EST

Team USA's soccer star and first time Olympic athlete Alex Morgan, 23, has already run away with her new sports celebrity status, and now she's kicking it straight past the goalposts, having scored the game-winning goal for the USA on Monday in a 4-3 game against Canada, qualifying the U.S. women's soccer team for the gold medal game against Japan on Thursday.

Morgan's tie-breaking goal against Canada was scored in the 123rd minute of the match. "I can't remember ever feeling this way after scoring a goal," Morgan said about the recent win, reports Sports Illustrated. "It's just so exhilarating."

Morgan was embraced by her teammates and cheered by the audience after her impressive goal. Her first Olympics is becoming quite the event, validating her longstanding efforts to get there. "I watched the Olympics when I was a little girl," she told USA Today about her dream. "I remember watching the Beijing finals and it was about 4 or 5 a.m. our time in California, and I was one of the only ones who woke up to watch the match. And at that moment I knew, I'm going to be on this team next Olympics."

Team USA will face off against Japan for the gold on Thursday.

Check out Uinterview's exclusive celebrity interview with Alex Morgan here:

For more on the London Olympics in 2012:

EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Soccer's Alex Morgan 'Visualizes' The Game, Leads U.S. Team To Openers Victory

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PROFILE: The Audacity Of Hope Solo

Alex Morgan, Women's Soccer Star, Looks Forward To London

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