.Sam Borden, ESPN Elder WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The USA females's nationwide team gained the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, hammering South america, 1-0, in a video game that needed a stout protective stand in the 1st half observed through an exact and estimated surge in the second to deny South america and its fabulous leader Marta.It was actually a recognizable ending to an event that had been a lot concerning what is actually new for the USWNT: A brand new coach in Emma Hayes, a brand-new frontline of enemies and also a brand-new expectation after the dissatisfaction of final summertime's Women's Globe Cup all harmonized together to cause a record-extending 5th Olympic name, and initially given that 2012, for the USA women, who never ever routed at any sort of factor in their six matches in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the succeeding target in the 57th minute with a sleek end after going through on goal, however youthful midfielder Korbin Albert-- who provided the ball-- and also Sophia Johnson, that smartly ran away from the play after discovering she remained in an offside posture, were the companies. As soon as Swanson curled her go past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Cruise ship as well as Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's fourth goal of the event, most among the Americans and also matched for second-most among all gamers in the competitors. Brazil, which had been actually in demand for much of video game's beginning, remained to precipitate searching for a counterpoise but could not discover its technique via. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her staff's most useful gamer in the initial fifty percent, performed certainly not permit an objective in the knockout rounds.The match was actually played on the exact same industry where the men's groups coming from Spain and also France played out an eight-goal standard in their last a time earlier, as well as women's crews began at a pace that a minimum of hinted at a possible offending rockets, too.Mallory Swanson's objective delivered a fifth gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile using Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a choice which was actually easy to understand-- the team had simply beaten France and Spain while she offered a red-card suspension-- yet still felt odd. And also Hayes went down Flower Lavelle from her lineup for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's personal injury record and also the opportunity of extra time. It goes without saying, it was actually a choice that exercised perfectly.As they carried out in their distress of Spain, the Brazilians appeared pressing. Inside pair of moments, Ludmila possessed a close-range go spared through Naeher, a very early wake-up call that believed that an arrow evaded. Unbothered, Brazil maintained happening. Adriana danced deftly on the end pipe as well as virtually drew a charge coming from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila switched Naomi Girma as well as whipped a fired right into the net that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and also simply skipped Ludmila along with a harmful cross facing goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had moments, also. Trio Rodman's wonderful spin at midfield delivered her flying towards objective and also Swanson used her speed too to pull a section yet South america consistently experienced more risky. Otherwise for Naeher-- who delivered a magical reaction save of Portilho in first-half discontinuance time-- the U.S. would have been well behind at the break.Instead, they were level and also capable ahead out with more significant necessity and also verve. Johnson went across contemporary of Swanson's range and Sam Coffey that swerved vast to receive the U.S. group back into it before Albert discovered her space. A quick look, a stimulating elapsed and also Brazil was reeling.Marta, playing in her 6th Olympics as well as what is anticipated to become her final worldwide, began at the hr but was actually continuously shut in. Four minutes into 10 mins of standstill opportunity, Adriana pushed a diving header at target coming from close range that Naeher-- once again == whacked away.Marta put her hands on her head. The American fans shouted in pleasure. One year after awesome dissatisfaction, the USWNT was back.