LONDON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Monday's highlights from the Olympics:
-- In a controversial, physical and thrilling game, the United States women's soccer team reached the gold medal final with a 4-3, overtime win over Canada. The Americans overcame three one-goal deficits to send it into extra time and finally won it on a header by Alex Morgan. The Canadians were bitter about a penalty kick given the U.S. team after their goaltender was ruled to have held onto the ball too long. That allowed U.S. star Abby Wambach to tie it at 3-3 late in regulation.
-- After piling up medals through the first nine days of competition, China and the United States combined for just two gold medals and six overall. That left the Chinese in front with 31 gold medals to 29 for the Americans. China also led the overall medal total 64-63.
-- The distribution of medals throughout the Olympic nations was widespread Monday. Nine countries that had not won a medal at these Games did so and two of them -- Granada and Cyprus -- won a medal for the first time in history. Kuwait won its second of all time and Saudi Arabia grabbed its third. There were 57 medals awarded and only one country, Russia, had more than three of them.
-- Jennifer Suhr won the only gold medal for the United States, that coming in the pole vault. Suhr surprised Russian Elena Isinbaeva, who won the gold medal in both Beijing and Athens. Isinbaeva set a world record in both those victories, clearing 16-6 3/4 in 2008. She managed only a jump of 15-5 in the London finals.
-- The U.S. men's basketball team pulled away from Argentina in the second half for a 126-97 victory. That completed group play for the Americans, who will now meet Australia in Wednesday's quarterfinals. The women's basketball team from the United States will face Canada in the quarterfinals of their tournament on Tuesday.
-- Despite a loss to Russia earlier in the volleyball tournament, the American men claimed first place in its group after a three-set win over Tunisia. That means there will be a U.S.-Italy matchup in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
-- The Americans did not manage a single medal in the three gymnastics finals and were shut out just about everywhere except in track and field. There was a medal, however, from shooter Matt Emmons. Eight years ago he fired at the wrong target with his final shot, costing him a medal. Four years ago his rifle fired before he was set for his final shot, costing him a medal. On Monday he was in second place going into his final shot and his score of 7.6 (instead of at least a10 as he had hoped) almost cost him a medal again. He finished three-tenths of a point in front of the fourth-place finisher and walked away with a bronze.
