USA's midfielder Carli Lloyd celebrates scoring against Japan during the final of the women's football competition of the London 2012 Olympic Games USA vs Japan at Wembley stadium in London. The United States clinched a 2-1 victory over Japan in the Olympic women's final as Lloyd's double gave her country a third successive gold medal.

The United States clinched a 2-1 victory over Japan in the Olympic women's final on Thursday as Carli Lloyd's double gave her country a third successive gold medal and avenged last year's World Cup final defeat against the Asian giants.

Lloyd missed a penalty when the US lost that World Cup final in an agonising shoot-out, but she enjoyed sweet redemption at Wembley with a goal in each half and, although Japan's Yuki Ogimi got one back, the US held on to secure their fourth gold in women's football in the last five Olympics.