.Sam Borden, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The USA women's national staff won the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, beating Brazil, 1-0, in a game that required a stout protective stand in the first fifty percent observed through an accurate as well as estimated rise in the 2nd to reject Brazil and also its epic captain Marta.It was a familiar finishing to a tournament that had been actually a great deal regarding what is actually new for the USWNT: A brand-new trainer in Emma Hayes, a brand new frontline of aggressors and also a brand-new expectation after the frustration of final summer's Female's Globe Cup all meshed with each other to result in a record-extending fifth Olympic name, as well as to begin with considering that 2012, for the USA women, who certainly never routed at any factor in their six matches in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the succeeding objective in the 57th minute along with a slick end after going through on objective, however younger midfielder Korbin Albert-- that delivered the ball-- and Sophia Smith, that smartly escaped from the play after understanding she remained in an offside placement, were the facilitators. The moment Swanson curled her shot past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Cruise and Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was actually Swanson's 4th target of the event, many among the Americans and tied for second-most among all gamers in the competitors. Brazil, which had been actually in order for much of activity's onset, remained to precipitate trying to find a counterpoise yet could not discover its own technique through. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her team's very most useful gamer in the first half, did certainly not permit a goal in the knockout rounds.The suit was actually played on the very same area where the guys's crews coming from Spain as well as France participated in out an eight-goal standard in their final a day earlier, and females's staffs started at a rate that at least mentioned a prospective outrageous fireworks, too.Mallory Swanson's goal supplied a 5th gold award for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a selection which was actually logical-- the group had actually simply beaten France and also Spain while she provided a red-card revocation-- yet still experienced odd. As well as Hayes fell Flower Lavelle from her lineup for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's injury past history and the option of extra time. Needless to say, it was a choice that exercised perfectly.As they carried out in their upset of Spain, the Brazilians came out pressing. Inside 2 moments, Ludmila possessed a close-range shot saved by Naeher, a very early cautionary tale that thought that an arrow evaded. Unbothered, South america maintained happening. Adriana danced deftly on the end line and nearly drew a charge from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila switched Naomi Girma as well as blasted a shot in to the net that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho defeated Tierna Davidson and also simply overlooked Ludmila along with a harmful cross facing goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had seconds, too. Triad Rodman's wonderful spin at midfield sent her soaring in the direction of target as well as Swanson utilized her velocity at the same time to attract an edge yet South america consistently felt much more dangerous. Or even for Naeher-- who supplied an enchanting response save of Portilho in first-half interruption time-- the USA would certainly have been well responsible for at the break.Instead, they were level and also able ahead out with higher urgency and also verve. Smith traversed just out of Swanson's scope and also Sam Coffey had a crack that swerved wide to get the USA crowd back in to it just before Albert discovered her area. A fast glance, a strong elapsed and also Brazil was actually reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics and what is counted on to become her last worldwide, came on at the hr yet was actually continuously repressed. 4 minutes right into 10 moments of stop time, Adriana pushed a diving header at target from close quarters that Naeher-- once again == swatted away.Marta placed her hands on her head. The American fans chanted in merriment. One year after awesome disappointment, the USWNT was back.