USA defeats Brazil to win women’s soccer gold medal

Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press

PARIS, France (AP) — The U.S. women’s shot squad won its 5th Olympic golden badge by beating Brazil 1-0 connected Mallory Swanson’s early second-half extremity successful nan tourney last Saturday astatine nan Paris Games.

The Americans, who hadn’t won golden since nan 2012 London Olympics, closed retired an undefeated tally to nan title successful their first world run nether caller coach Emma Hayes.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved nan triumph pinch a one-handed prevention connected Adriana’s header successful stoppage clip astatine Parc des Princes. At nan last whistle, nan U.S. players celebrated arsenic Bruce Springsteen’s “Born successful nan U.S.A.” played successful nan stadium.

The nonaccomplishment is much heartbreak for Brazil and its iconic star, Marta. The six-time world subordinate of nan twelvemonth has ne'er won a Women’s World Cup aliases an Olympics. This is expected to beryllium her past awesome world tournament.

It was nan 3rd triumph for nan United States complete Brazil successful an Olympic final. The Americans besides hit nan Brazilians successful nan 2004 successful Athens and 4 years later successful Beijing.

Brazil has ne'er vanished amended than runner-up astatine nan Olympics.

“I’m very emotional. It’s been a dream of excavation to beryllium successful this position,” said Hayes, a London native. “I person to convey my dada because he’s nan 1 who pushed maine to this constituent to beryllium capable to travel and coach an unbelievable group of players that person received maine truthful good and taken connected committee everything I person asked. They are tremendous group and players and domiciled models. Yeah, I emotion them.”

Three years agone successful Tokyo, nan U.S. settled for nan bronze medal. The Americans were knocked retired successful nan quarterfinals astatine nan 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Swanson’s 57th-minute extremity came successful her 100th quality pinch nan United States.

Tom Cruise and erstwhile U.S. shot prima Megan Rapinoe were among those successful nan crowd.

The U.S. besides won golden successful 1996 astatine nan Atlanta Games successful nan first women’s shot tourney astatine nan Olympics.

Brazil vanished 3rd successful its group successful France, earning 1 of 2 third-place spots successful nan knockout round.

Marta was playing successful her six Olympics. Her first was successful 2004 — erstwhile she was conscionable 18 — which ended pinch a silver. But she started nan lucifer connected nan chair aft a two-game suspension for a difficult foul connected Spain’s Olga Carmona successful nan team’s last group match.

Hayes was named coach of nan U.S. backmost successful November but she didn’t subordinate nan squad until May truthful she could decorativeness retired nan play pinch Chelsea — guiding nan Women’s Super League squad to its 5th consecutive title.

Hayes was tasked pinch turning astir a U.S. squad that collapsed retired of past summer’s Women’s World Cup earlier than ever before. Despite her short clip pinch nan Americans, she quickly fostered chemistry wrong nan young squad, peculiarly betwixt forwards Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Swanson.

The trio person scored 10 of nan 12 U.S. goals successful France.

Brazil had nan champion chances early. Ludmila was unsocial successful beforehand of nan extremity successful nan 2nd infinitesimal but her changeable went consecutive into Naeher’s arms.

Ludmila appeared to people successful nan precocious acold area successful nan 16th infinitesimal but was offside.

Swanson took disconnected connected a break down nan near broadside successful nan 25th infinitesimal but but Brazil goalkeeper Lorena easy stopped her shot.

Naeher kept nan crippled scoreless astatine nan break by punching distant Gabi Portilho’s changeable successful first-half stoppage time.

Brazilian midfielder Vitoria Yaya was stretched disconnected pinch an wounded early successful nan 2nd half.

The U.S. continued to frighten aft Swanson’s goal. Smith astir scored connected a break successful nan 66th but her effort went wide.

Lindsey Horan smashed a free footwear into nan wall successful nan 82nd aft Tarciane fouled Smith conscionable extracurricular nan box.

Hayes made 1 alteration to her lineup for nan final, starting Korbin Albert successful spot of Rose Lavelle. It was nan 2nd youngest U.S. lineup to commencement a golden badge match, pinch an mean property of 26.7. The mean property of nan squad that started nan 1996 last was 25.8.

The U.S. precocious to nan last pinch a 1-0 extra-time triumph complete Germany successful Lyon. Smith scored nan lone goal.

Brazil earned its spot pinch a chaotic 4-2 triumph complete Women’s World Cup champions Spain.

Germany went connected to triumph nan tournament’s bronze badge pinch a 1-0 triumph complete Spain successful Lyon connected Friday.