The U.S. women’s team won a record fifth Olympic gold medal and its first since 2012. Mallory Swanson scored in the 58th minute of the final against Brazil on a sunny afternoon in southwest Paris.
Just a year after being forced to concede four goals in as many games in a miserable World Cup that raised questions about whether they had permanently relinquished their status as the gold standard for women’s soccer, the Americans are back on top under new coach Emma Hayes, who has become the toast of the U.S. soccer establishment after just nine games in charge in which her team has yet to trail.
“I’m very emotional,” Hayes said after the game. “It’s been a dream for me to be in this position. I have to thank my dad because he’s the one who pushed me to this point so I can come and coach an incredible group of players who have been so welcoming and have embraced everything I’ve asked of them. They’re great people, great players and great role models. Yes, I love them.”
It wasn’t always comfortable for the Americans, who came out as favourites on Saturday but were the underdogs for nearly an hour after needing extra time to advance through the quarter-finals and semi-finals. But they leave the French capital as deserved Olympic champions behind a stunningly rejuvenated attack of Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith — the front line. Known as Triple Espresso – And four players in the back line led by defender Naomi Girma, the only bright spot during the exit from the World Cup last summer and who confirmed her status as one of the best defenders in the world at the age of 24.
Having barely scraped through the group stage as one of two third-placed teams, the Seleção started brightly and immediately dispelled fears that they might be sitting low. They should have taken the lead in the second minute when Ludmila shot from 10 yards out, but she headed straight into the arms of Alyssa Naeher. A brief spell of American possession led to a series of corners, but it wasn’t long before Ludmila struck again. The Chicago Red Stars forward looked to have finished the game off brilliantly from an acute angle on the quarter-hour mark, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Ludmila then mishandled a long cross from Gaby Portillo to score her third goal of the opening 18 minutes.
With the atmosphere chaotic and chaotic as their fans chanted “USA!” and “Brazil!” every few minutes, the United States were not keen on possession as their defense outplayed the Selecao’s stubborn attack. Brazil’s insistence on attack seemed to wear on the Americans, who were already exhausted by the intense Olympic schedule and Hayes’ reluctance to sit on the bench. The breakthrough came from nothing in the 58th minute when Corbin Albert, Hayes’ only change since Tuesday’s semifinal win over Germany, threaded a perfect through ball to Swanson, who curled a right-footed shot past Lorena to make her 100th appearance for her country. Swanson’s fourth goal of the Games was the latest breakthrough in a partnership with Rodman and Smith, who scored 10 of the team’s 12 goals on their gold-medal run.
That was the signal for Brazil coach Arthur Elias to bring on Marta, but her introduction did nothing to slow the Americans’ resolute resolve, whose chances of winning were quickly growing. Ten days after her international career ended with a red card, the six-time World Player of the Year had done everything she could to lead Brazil to their first major tournament win in half an hour.
In the 88th minute, Brazil had their last chance when Marta’s free kick from a dangerous area went over the bar. But Naher was there for the last chance in 10 minutes of stoppage time, capping a remarkable tournament with an acrobatic save to deny Adriana’s header. It was Naher’s fourth clean sheet of the tournament, including the entire round of 16. By then, the celebrations had begun among the American fans in the stands.
Three hundred and seventy-one days after the United States crashed out of the World Cup on penalties after Megan Rapinoe blasted her shot over the bar, the U.S. capped off a dramatic achievement in stunning fashion. The players celebrated the win in front of a cheering crowd as Rapinoe pumped her fist from the stands.