The U.S. women’s soccer team won its fifth Olympic gold medal on Saturday, beating Brazil 1-0 on a late goal from Mallory Swanson in their final game of the Paris Olympic tournament.
At that very moment, Mallory Swanson yelled at her teammate Sophia Smith to stay away from the ball as it was flying towards her.
Swanson knew Smith was offside. But Swanson didn’t.
“I said, ‘Don’t touch it! Leave it alone, leave it alone!'” Swanson said. “And it was my job to clean it up.”
A 57th-minute goal gave the U.S. women’s soccer team a 1-0 win over Brazil in the final at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, earning them their fifth Olympic gold medal.
The United States, which had not won a gold medal since the 2012 London Olympics, won its first international competition under new coach Emma Hayes, ending its undefeated streak.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saved Adriana’s header with one hand in added time at the Parc des Princes to secure the win. As the final whistle blew, the U.S. players celebrated on the pitch with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” playing.
“We’ve grown so much,” said Swanson, who made his 100th appearance for the national team. “And it’s really cool to see that. We’ve grown on and off the field. And you keep hearing that we play with joy. We’re having so much fun, and I’m really happy.”
Watch l Swanson leads USA to women’s Olympic title over Brazil:
The U.S. women’s soccer team won its fifth Olympic gold medal after Mallory Swanson scored early in the second half to give the team a 1-0 win over Brazil in the final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The result is a bigger loss for Brazil and its iconic star Marta. The six-time World Player of the Year has never won a Women’s World Cup or Olympics, and this is expected to be her last major international competition.
It was the United States’ third victory over Brazil in an Olympic final. The U.S. beat Brazil in Athens in 2004 and again in Beijing four years later.
The United States also won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the first time women’s soccer was played at the Olympics, and at the 2012 London Olympics.
Brazil has never finished better than second at the Olympics.
“I’m very emotional. It’s been my dream to be here,” said Hayes, who is from London. “I have to thank my dad because he’s the one who’s pushed me to this point and allowed me to coach these unbelievable players who have accepted me and given me everything I’ve asked of them. They’re great people, players and role models. Yeah, I love them.”
Yours #PARIS2024 Gold Medalist 🇺🇸🥇 pic.twitter.com/vUNquAG5tn
Three years ago in Tokyo, the U.S. had to settle for bronze. The U.S. was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Tom Cruise, former U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe and her fiancé, former WNBA player Sue Bird, were in the crowd.
Marta is competing in her sixth Olympics. Her first was in 2004, when she was just 18, and she finished with a silver medal. However, she started on the bench after receiving a two-game suspension for a foul on Spain’s Olga Carmona in the team’s final group game.
Hayes was hired as head coach of the U.S. national team in November but did not rejoin the squad until May to finish the season at Chelsea, where she led the Women’s Super League team to a fifth consecutive title.
Hayes was tasked with reviving a U.S. team that was eliminated earlier than expected from last summer’s Women’s World Cup. Despite her short time with the U.S. team, she quickly developed chemistry with the young squad, especially with forwards Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Swanson.
America excels at defense
The trio scored 10 of the U.S.’s 12 goals in France, with Naeher and the U.S. defense allowing just two goals.
“I think we’re on a steady climb,” Crystal Dunn said. “Winning gold is obviously amazing and we’ll all celebrate that and absorb it. But there’s life after these Olympics. I think we’ll accept where we are, but I think it’s important to realize there’s so much more we can do. And obviously where Emma is right now, long term, is incredible.”
Brazil had the best chances early on. Ludmila was alone in front of goal in the second minute but her shot went straight into Naeher’s arms. Ludmila looked to have scored from the top corner in the 16th minute but was ruled offside.
Naer kept the game scoreless until the end when he cleared a Gabi Portillo shot in first-half stoppage time.
Brazilian midfielder Vitoria Yaya was forced off the pitch early in the second half with an injury.
The U.S. continued to threaten after Swanson’s goal. Smith almost had a goal with a break in the 66th minute, but her attempt went wide.
Lindsey Horan smashed a free-kick into the wall in the 82nd minute after Tarciane had fouled Smith just outside the box.
Hayes made one change to the lineup for the final, starting Korbin Albert instead of Rose Lavelle. It was the second-youngest U.S. lineup to start a gold medal game, with an average age of 26.7. The average age of the 1996 final team was 25.8.
Brazil finished third in the group stage in France, securing two third-place finishes in the knockout rounds.
The United States advanced to the final with a 1-0 overtime win over Germany in Lyon, with Smith scoring a goal. Brazil advanced to the final with a 4-2 win over reigning Women’s World Cup champion Spain.
Germany won bronze at the tournament after beating Spain 1-0 in Lyon on Friday.
Asked if she was confident the U.S. team could win gold in France, defender Naomi Zirma was succinct.
“We’ve always believed that,” she said.
