The USWNT is heading to the Gold Medal Match of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after defeating Germany 1-0 on Tuesday. The Americans will play for their fifth Olympic Gold Medal this Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday’s semifinal match against Germany marked the seventh time in USWNT history that the Americans have made it to the final four at the Olympics. The USWNT narrowly defeated Japan on Saturday to advance.
The USWNT and Germany met in the Group Stage on July 28, and the Americans came out on top 4-1. In another close match on Tuesday, the USWNT had to win in extra time again to advance.
Here is the breakdown from Tuesday’s semifinal:
USWNT vs. Germany
The USWNT had a great chance for an early lead in the second minute. Defender Naomi Girma was fouled which resulted in a free-kick. Tierna Davidson was unmarked near the back post but her header went straight to German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Just two minutes later, the Americans nearly found another scoring chance. Trinity Rodman sprinted down the right side and sent a cross to Mallory Swanson in the penalty area. Swanson couldn’t get a good touch on the ball, it went to Rose Lavelle at the back post, but Berger saved her attempt.
The first half ended scoreless, but neither side lacked offensive creativity. Germany started easing their way into the game after the 20th minute and American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made big saves to keep the match even.
In the 59th minute, Rodman was down on the pitch for a few minutes after being tackled. Emma Hayes was preparing a substitution, but Rodman got back on her feet without any assistance. Hayes did make a change though, replacing Lavelle with Lynn Williams.
Swanson was just inches away from putting the Americans in the lead in the 63rd minute. Girma pushed the ball forward to Swanson who went one-on-one with Berger, but Swanson tried to go around the outside of the German goalkeeper and sent the ball into the side of the netting. The offside flag went up after the attempt, so a goal would have been overturned regardless.
Swanson again almost broke the 0-0 deadlock in the 85th minute. She found the bottom right corner of the back of the net, but the offside flag went up. Just like on Saturday, the USWNT would head back into extra time.
Sophia Smith broke the deadlock in the 95th minute to give the USWNT a 1-0 lead. Swanson sent a through-ball to Smith who managed to beat Berger who came rushing out of the net. Smith’s fourth goal of the tournament meant that of the 11 goals scored by the USWNT, nine of them have come from the “Trident” of Smith, Swanson, and Rodman.
Nearing the end of the second half of extra time, Naeher came up huge in the final minutes to keep the Americans’ lead alive. On a dangerous free-kick attempt by Germany, Naeher somehow managed to block the ball out and end a chance for Germany to equalize.
As the final whistle blew, “Freed from Desire” blasted out of the speakers in Lyon and the USWNT saw themselves back into the Gold Medal Match for the first time since 2012.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
