Wambach, Morgan lead statement win by US

The U.S. women's soccer team defeated Sweden 3-1 on Saturday in the Volvo Winners Cup in Halmstad, Sweden behind goals from Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath.

WATCH: Full Match Replay: USA 3, Sweden 1

Wambach opened the scoring in just the 8th minute with a left-footed half volley from 30 yards out that flew over the head of Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. Heather O'Reilly provided the flick-on header to put Wambach into the dangerous position (VIDEO).

WATCH: Abby Wambach's Goal
WATCH: Alex Morgan's Goal
WATCH: Lotta Schelin's Goal
WATCH: Tobin Heath's Goal

Morgan doubled the advantage for the U.S. in the 22nd minute on a brilliant individual effort, holding off defender Stina Segerstrom with a shoulder challenge in the box and slotting the ball past Lindahl with her right foot (VIDEO). The goal is Morgan's 15th in 13 games this calendar year.

Sweden continued to test the United States' defense in the opening 30 minutes despite the two setbacks. Midfielder Lotta Schelin was consistently dangerous on Sweden's left flank, attacking the right side of the American defense. Schelin forced U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo to make two critical back-to-back saves in the 18th and 19th minutes.

The Swedish playmaker would not be stopped, however, in the 35th minute when she cut the U.S. lead in half.

A deft flick-on with the outside of the right boot from Swedish captain Nilla Fischer put Schelin in behind the U.S. defense and Schelin finished the play by chipping a stranded Solo from 8 yards out. The U.S. took the 2-1 lead into halftime.

U.S. midfielder Megan Rapinoe opened the second half by heading a shot off the crossbar 30 seconds after kickoff and the U.S. quickly found its third goal.

Wambach's 54th minute cross found the head of Heath - who replaced O'Reilly at halftime - and Heath headed it down into the ground and past Lindahl for the 3-1 lead. That's how it would end for Pia Sundhage's team, which faces Japan on Monday at 7 a.m. ET (live on www.UniversalSports.com) in their second and final match of the Olympic tune-up tournament.

? 2012 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Any use, reproduction, modification, distribution, display or performance of this material without NBCUniversal's prior written consent is prohibited.

fox news debate martin luther king jr mlk mlk school closures being human being human