Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament

The women's football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics was held in London and 5 other cities in the United Kingdom. This was the first FIFA women's competition in the United Kingdom.

 Qualification 

Twelve teams qualified:

  Great Britain (Host nation)
  Japan
  North Korea
  South Africa
  Cameroon
  United States
  Canada
  Brazil
  Colombia
  New Zealand
  Sweden
  France

 Group stage 

 Group E 

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Great Britain330050+59 Brazil320161+56 New Zealand31023303 Cameroon3003111–100

 Group F 

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Sweden312063+35 Japan312 021+15 Canada311164+24 South Africa301217–61

In Group F play before the official opening ceremonies, the Japanese team won the first match against Canada at Coventry on July 25 London2012,  "Japan start with a win" ; retrieved 2012-7-25.  The Japan-South Africa game was a draw with no goals for each team.Japan-South Africa, July 31 at London2012.com ; retrieved 2012-8-6.  The Japan-Sweden game was also a draw with no score.ABCNews.com,  "Sweden Holds Japan to 0-0 Tie at Olympics," July 31, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-6.

 Group G 

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts United States330082+69 France320184+46 North Korea310226–43 Colombia300306–60

In Group G play, the American women won each of three matches.USSoccer.com, 2012 Olympic Games ; retrieved 2012-8-7.

 Ranking of third place teams 

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts Canada311164+24 New Zealand31023303 North Korea310226–43

 Knockout stage 
The tournament had a single-elimination format.  When a team lost a match, the competition was ended for them.  In other words, when a team won, the women continued to play until only one team remained as the Olympic champion. 

In the first match at St James Park in Newcastle between New Zealand and the United States, the 2-0 victory of the US women ended New Zealand's participation in the 2012 games.Woodcock, Fred.  "Football Ferns eliminated by USA in quarters," Stuff.co.nz, 4 August 2012; retrieved 2012-8-7.  In the semi-final match at Old Trafford in Manchester, the US women won a 4-3 victory over Canada in the last minute of extra time in overtime.Borden, Sam.  "U.S. Women Win a  Thriller on a Header," New York Times (US). August 7, 2012; excerpt, "Suddenly, a pink headband rose high in the air and Alex Morgan, the speedy American star forward, used her head to send the ball on a perfect arc, just over the goalkeeper’s hand and just under the crossbar, for a 4-3 victory"; see also, Jerry Hinman.  "U.S. 4, Canada 3: A match great beyond great," CBSSports,  August 6, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-7.

In the opening match at Cardiff between Brazil and Japan, the Brazilians were forced out of the tournament after losing to Japan 2-0."Brazil make shock exit from women's football event after losing to Japan 2-0," The Telegraph (UK). August 3, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-3.
In the match at Wembley Stadium in London between France and Japan, the Japanese team won 2-1."Japan reaches women’s football final after holding on to beat France 2-1," Washington Post (US), August 6, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-6.

 Bronze medal match 

 Gold medal match 

The United States women's national soccer team and the Japan women's national football  team met in the gold medal match.US Woman's National Team, "USA-JPN: Lineups Are In," August 18, 2012; excerpt, USA: 1-Hope Solo; 17-Lori Chalupny, 15-Kate Markgraf, 2-Heather Mitts, 3-Christie Rampone-Capt.; 7-Shannon Boxx, 11-Carli Lloyd, 9-Heather O’Reilly, 5-Lindsay Tarpley; 16-Angela Hucles, 8-Amy Rodriguez ... JPN: 1-Miho Fukumoto; 2-Yukari Kinga, 3-Hiromi Ikeda, 4-Azusa Iwashimizu, 7-Kozue Ando; 14-Kyoko Yano, 8-Aya Miyama, 10-Homare Sawa, 15-Mizuho Sakaguchi, 11-Shinobu Ohno, 17-Yuki Nagasato; retrieved 2012-8-29.  This was a rematch of teams which played for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. The match was played at the Wembley Stadium in London on August 9, 2012. The American team won the match 2-1.Parker, Graham.  "Olympic women's soccer 2012 – USA 2-1 Japan - as it happened," The Guardian (UK). August 12, 2012; retrieved 2012-8-20.

 Statistics 

 Top scorer :  Christine Sinclair (6 goals)
 Own goal :  Ysis Sonkeng
 Red card :  Choe Mi-Gyong

 Related pages 
 2012 Summer Olympics
 Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

References

Category:2012 Summer Olympics
2012
Category:2012 in association football