.Sam Borden, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is an elderly article writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The USA women's nationwide crew won the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, beating South america, 1-0, in a video game that needed a stout defensive stand in the first fifty percent followed through an exact as well as computed surge in the second to deny South america and also its famous leader Marta.It was a familiar ending to a competition that had actually been so much regarding what's brand new for the USWNT: A new train in Emma Hayes, a brand new frontline of assaulters and also a new outlook after the dissatisfaction of last summertime's Women's Planet Mug all meshed with each other to cause a record-extending 5th Olympic title, and also initially due to the fact that 2012, for the united state ladies, who never ever tracked at any sort of factor in their six suits in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the succeeding target in the 57th moment with a slick finish after running through on objective, yet young midfielder Korbin Albert-- that delivered the reception-- as well as Sophia Smith, who intelligently broke away coming from the play after understanding she remained in an offside setting, were actually the facilitators. When Swanson crinkled her go past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the group at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Cruise ship and Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's fourth target of the competition, a lot of among the Americans and tied for second-most amongst all gamers in the competitors. Brazil, which had been in order for a lot of game's onset, continued to push forward in search of a counterpoise but couldn't find its own method via. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her staff's very most valuable gamer in the very first half, did not make it possible for an objective in the knockout rounds.The match was actually used the same field where the men's staffs coming from Spain and also France participated in out an eight-goal classic in their last a time previously, and also girls's staffs began at a rate that at least meant a prospective annoying rockets, too.Mallory Swanson's target supplied a 5th gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a choice which was logical-- the crew had just trumped France as well as Spain while she offered a red-card revocation-- but still felt weird. And Hayes lost Flower Lavelle coming from her lineup for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's accident background and the probability of additional opportunity. Obviously, it was a decision that worked out perfectly.As they carried out in their upset of Spain, the Brazilians appeared pushing. Inside pair of mins, Ludmila possessed a close-range shot conserved through Naeher, a very early wake-up call that felt like an arrowhead evaded. Unbothered, Brazil kept happening. Adriana danced deftly on completion line and almost pulled a fine coming from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila switched Naomi Girma and castigated a shot in to the web that was ruled out for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and also only missed Ludmila with an unsafe cross facing goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans possessed instants, also. Trinity Rodman's magical twist at midfield delivered her flying in the direction of target as well as Swanson utilized her velocity too to pull a corner but Brazil regularly really felt more unsafe. Otherwise for Naeher-- who supplied a magical response save of Portilho in first-half stop opportunity-- the USA would possess been actually effectively behind at the break.Instead, they were level and able to find out along with better necessity and also gusto. Smith traversed just out of Swanson's grasp and also Sam Coffey that swerved large to receive the USA group back right into it just before Albert found her space. An easy look, a strong pass and also Brazil was reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics and what is actually anticipated to become her last worldwide, came on at the hr yet was actually consistently bottled up. Four moments into 10 mins of discontinuance opportunity, Adriana pushed a diving header at objective coming from close quarters that Naeher-- once again == whacked away.Marta placed her palms on her scalp. The United States followers shouted in merriment. One year after awesome disappointment, the USWNT was back.