USWNT wins fifth gold medal after defeating Brazil 1-0 in Olympic final

The US women’s national team are Olympic gold medalists again.

The US made a habit of threatening teams early this Olympics, but such was not the case against Brazil in the Olympic final. Despite four corner kicks, the USWNT looked flat with just two shots on goal before the break. Things almost went sideways for the five-time gold medalist in the 16th minute when Ludmila’s goal was waved offside.

But the US responded in the second half with Mallory Swanson breaking through in the 57th minute. Midfielder Korbin Albert slotted a long ball through two Brazilian defenders to find Swanson. The forward took the ball in and shot low and to the right of goalkeeper Lorena. It was Swanson’s fourth goal of the tournament.

Brazilian icon Marta entered the match in the 61st minute, her last major international final, for Ludmila. Despite a late push, she couldn’t help her side finally overcome a USWNT in a gold medal match. The last time a team was held scoreless in an Olympic final was Brazil by the US in 2008. The US also beat Brazil in 2004.

Once again a game Brazil played at this Olympics finished with double-digit stoppage time with US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher making another huge save in stoppage time to secure the win.

Jeff Rueter and Steph Yang discuss the key moments.

Swanson scores again

After working hard to recover from injury in 2023, Swanson has been as invigorating as the rest of her Triple Espresso comrades throughout these Olympics. After a cagey first half of today’s final, Swanson finally found space beyond the back line to break open a deadlocked match.

Credit to midfielder Korbin Albert for spotting the industry of Swanson and Sophia Smith in the 57th minute, lobbing a ball over the backline apparently into Smith’s path. The Portland Thorns forward wisely suspected she was offside, providing a decoy to keep the Brazilian defense on lower alert while Swanson swooped in — from an onside position — to collect and carry the ball.

From there, it was Swanson at her best. A well-charted dribble saw her drift from the left toward the box, where she then placed a shot into the far corner with her stronger right foot. The crowd erupted in jubilation, with Smith’s dummy run serving as an honorary assist in combination with Albert’s dime. It was a sequence worth of opening a gold medal match and as fine a way to mark a player’s 100th cap as one could imagine.

TEAM USA STRIKES FIRST—AND IT’S MALLORY SWANSON AGAIN!

1-0 IN THE GOLD MEDAL MATCH.#ParisOlympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/rCEQNIbR68

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024

It’s frankly hard to fathom that Swanson, who only just turned 26 in April, has already completed her first century of USWNT appearances as of Saturday’s final. Initially a program wunderkind, Swanson bid her time playing more grateful roles like full back, earning a spot on the 2019 World Cup champion’s roster as its second-youngest player.

As the old guard hung up their boots, she finally stepped into the forward line. No attacker in the world was in finer form than Swanson in the first quarter of 2023. However, a torn patellar tendon cruelly ruled her out of that World Cup, robbing her of a chance for a landmark tournament showing along the forward line. She has since made the most of her time at the 2024 Paris Games.

Jeff Rueter

How Brazil stopped the USWNT in the first half

Throughout this tournament, the USWNT has made a point of threatening teams early in games to set a tone of dominance whenever possible. In each of their first five games, the United States held an advantage in the balance of expected goals. This is due to a higher accumulation of chances created, either in volume or due to their quality and corresponding likelihood of being converted. Whether it was a narrow edge (+0.18 in the group game against Germany) or a massive one (+4.61 against Zambia), it was a constant hallmark.

Of course, a tournament final rarely resembles the games that preceded it. Brazil came out with a point to prove, unflinching against the day’s favorite and setting themselves up to not just contain the United States attack, but create their threat. They achieved it quite simply: having just four field players in the central third, while camping a center back, a wing-back, and a winger in each wide space.

Out of possession, it allowed them to close passing lanes to Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson on the flank. It was even more of an advantage in possession, as Brazil’s wings poured pressure upon Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox and drew the center backs into wide areas — creating open pockets in the box to set up dangerous crosses.

Ultimately, Brazil was unable to capitalize with a first-half strike. Alyssa Naeher came up big on multiple occasions to keep the game scoreless, but considering the USWNT’s struggles in midfield throughout this tournament, it was a savvy tactical adjustment by Brazil to neutralize their opponents’ strengths.

Jeff Rueter

Marta’s international final

There was something just a little bit magical about seeing Marta enter the gold medal match and strap on the captain’s bracelet in the 61′. Call it sentimentality or call it respect, even the pro-USA crowd paused in their chanting to cheer for the GOAT herself. Marta has long pursued her international career far from home to bring reown to a program that, at least until recently, hasn’t managed to give back to her as much as it took. Amidst pleas for the continued development of women’s soccer and historical disputes with the federation, Marta has been a stalwart representative of her team and her country, an icon of representation not just for Brazilians but for players worldwide. So a moment of respect amidst a 90-minute match is hardly begrudging her anything.

It was interesting that Marta came on for Ludmila, who was nearly singlehandedly the biggest threat in front of the US goal in the first half. She lingered off of the center backs in hopes of disrupting their shape and spacing on quick transition, which made sense given the success Brazil was having stretching the US, and you could see it in effect whenever Marta would check into midfield with a defender trailing her and hoping to not let her distribute or be able to face up to goal. You can’t track Marta even as you know she’s trying to warp you like a Photoshop tool.

But it wasn’t enough for Brazil as the US withstood waves of late attacks, exhorted by Marta’s efforts around the box. Afterward, Marta could be seen speaking in teammates’ ears, hugging staff, and standing strong amidst the tears around her, ever the beacon. She departs this Olympics as a silver medalist, but no medal, no matter the color, could truly encompass her career.

Steph Yang

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(Top photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)