With a record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal in women’s football, the United States defeated Brazil 1-0 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with Mallory Swanson scoring the game’s winning goal to honour her 100th cap.
Brazil, the runner-up twice, were going for their first gold medal and believed they had taken the lead at the Parc des Princes until Ludmila’s goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
After using her speed to take the lead shortly after, Swanson was unable to overcome Lorena; neither team came close to making a breakthrough in the first half.
Vitoria Yaya’s forced exit from the pitch on a stretcher early in the second half was a blow to the Selecao, and Swanson’s goal shortly after made things worse.
With 57 minutes remaining in the match in Paris, Chicago Red Stars attacker Swanson calmly tapped past Lorena after holding her line well and latching onto a throughball from Korbin Albert.
Brazil might have forced extra time in a match with few obvious opportunities, but Emma Hayes’ squad won gold when an unmarked Adriana’s header was stopped by Alyssa Naeher in stoppage time.
Swanson celebrated her century in style, scoring for the fourth time this tournament, but was denied a stunning goal on her 99th cap for the USA in their 1-0 extra-time victory over Mexico in the semifinals.
The 26-year-old is the youngest player to achieve that feat since Amy Rodriguez (25) and the 44th player in USWNT history overall.
The United States of America has won five gold medals at the Olympics, surpassing Germany, Canada, and Norway by a wide margin. This triumph comes twelve years after their previous Olympic triumph in London.
Other posts by Hiresh
