.Sam Borden, ESPN Senior WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior article writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The united state girls's nationwide staff gained the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, hammering South america, 1-0, in an activity that required a stout protective fill in the first fifty percent followed by an accurate and calculated rise in the second to refute Brazil as well as its famous leader Marta.It was a recognizable ending to a competition that had actually been actually a great deal about what's new for the USWNT: A new coach in Emma Hayes, a brand-new frontline of assaulters as well as a brand new expectation after the disappointment of final summer season's Women's Globe Cup all meshed together to lead to a record-extending 5th Olympic name, and also initially due to the fact that 2012, for the U.S. girls, that certainly never tracked at any type of factor in their six suits in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the winning objective in the 57th min along with a glossy finish after going through on objective, however younger midfielder Korbin Albert-- that delivered the ball-- and Sophia Johnson, who wisely broke away coming from the stage show after discovering she was in an offside setting, were the companies. Once Swanson crinkled her chance past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Voyage as well as Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's fourth objective of the competition, many amongst the Americans and also matched for second-most among all gamers in the competition. South america, which had actually been in order for a lot of game's beginning, continued to push forward trying to find a counterpoise yet could not find its own way via. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her crew's very most beneficial player in the initial fifty percent, carried out not make it possible for a goal in the knockout rounds.The match was actually played on the very same field where the men's teams coming from Spain as well as France participated in out an eight-goal classic in their last a time earlier, as well as women's teams began at a rate that a minimum of mentioned a potential offensive fireworks, too.Mallory Swanson's target delivered a 5th gold award for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty ImagesBrazil began without Marta, a selection which was actually reasonable-- the staff had actually only beaten France as well as Spain while she offered a red-card revocation-- but still felt weird. And Hayes dropped Rose Lavelle coming from her lineup for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's trauma background and the possibility of extra time. Obviously, it was actually a choice that worked out perfectly.As they carried out in their distress of Spain, the Brazilians visited pushing. Inside two moments, Ludmila had a close-range try conserved through Naeher, an early cautionary tale that thought that an arrowhead evaded. Unbothered, Brazil always kept happening. Adriana danced deftly on the end line and virtually attracted a penalty from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila turned Naomi Girma and also whipped a shot right into the net that was actually dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and simply skipped Ludmila along with an unsafe cross in front of goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had minutes, also. Trinity Rodman's wonderful twist at midfield sent her soaring towards objective and Swanson utilized her speed at the same time to pull an edge however Brazil consistently experienced extra risky. Or even for Naeher-- that delivered a wonderful reaction save of Portilho in first-half blockage time-- the USA would possess been properly responsible for at the break.Instead, they equaled and also able to find out with better necessity and also gusto. Johnson went across contemporary of Swanson's scope and Sam Coffey had a crack that skided broad to receive the united state crowd back in to it before Albert located her area. A simple look, an exciting pass and Brazil was reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics and what is actually counted on to become her final worldwide, came on at the hr however was actually continuously repressed. 4 minutes right into 10 moments of halt time, Adriana pressed a diving header at objective from close range that Naeher-- once again == swatted away.Marta placed her hands on her head. The American enthusiasts chanted in pleasure. One year after incredible frustration, the USWNT was actually back.