PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 10: Tierna Davidson #12 of Team United States and Jheniffer #11 of Team Brazil compete for the ball during the Women’s Gold Medal match between Brazil and United States of America during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Parc des Princes on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
It all comes down to this. After a grueling five-game series in 13 days, the U.S. women’s national team will face Brazil for the gold medal. A win would be their first since the 2012 London Games, which ended a streak of three consecutive gold medals. Since then, the USWNT has won bronze in Tokyo and went medal-free in 2016. The USWNT is coming off two straight games that went into overtime.
The United States is led by the “trident” of Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, who, fittingly enough, have each scored three goals in this tournament. The team has also been rejuvenated by new coach Emma Hayes, whose sometimes unconventional tactics seem to resonate with the group.
Saturday’s game will also see the return of Brazilian soccer icon Marta, who has been suspended for the last two games after receiving a red card in the group stage. This is the final international tournament for Marta, who is retiring this year, and her last chance to win her first major international title with Brazil. Marta has two Olympic silver medals from the 2004 and 2008 games and will be looking to win her first gold… but the U.S. isn’t going to let her do it without a fight.
Follow Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the United States takes on Brazil in the gold medal match on Saturday.
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United States 0, Brazil 0 at half time
It has been a fast-paced, physical match so far, with Brazil taking advantage of a tired US squad to create a number of good chances.
Another shot from Brazil surprises the defense but goes out. This is the most unsettled defense the US has had all tournament, and they’ve been lucky with some of these misses.
Gaby Portilho shoots at the back line and is narrowly saved by Naeher. Fox is able to stop Ludmila from grabbing the rebound and the ball goes into the corner. Incredible save by Naeher, but one she ideally shouldn’t have had to make.
Swanson takes a free kick from far outside the box, but Brazil heads it in. Korbin Albert is officially cautioned for a sloppy foul on Ludmila.
Another Brazilian corner. Lindsey Horan gets her head on it to get the ball to Smith, but Brazil kicks the ball away from Smith to get the throw-in. The US struggles in transition, they can’t hold on to the ball after fending off Brazilian set-pieces and plays. It’s something to work on as the game progresses.
Another dangerous chance for Brazil, as Emily Fox prevents Ludmila from getting her head on Gaby Portilho’s cross. Brazil are awarded a corner, but the US manage to clear it out of the penalty area.
Emma Hayes has made a slight change to the formation in response to Brazil’s first 30 minutes, with Trinity Rodman pushing back and playing more in midfield when Brazil have the ball. Rodman is an asset in defence and attack, and will have the speed to hold back Ludmila and Yasmin on Brazil’s left flank.
Another possible chance, with Smith shooting from the left, but the ball is not powerful enough and rolls to Lorena.
Mallory Swanson takes advantage of a bad pass to Lorena, the keeper, to go after the ball, but collides with Lorena. Lorena is back and looks like she can continue playing well, but Brazil are given a foul.
As expected, it’s been a very physical game so far. In just 30 minutes, the Brazilians have six fouls to the US four. Brazil are always physical and use that to their advantage; in the past, the USWNT have responded to physical teams by immediately pushing back, but they will need to make sure they keep their cool when making big mistakes.
After 30 minutes, the two teams take their first hydration breaks. It is now 85 degrees in Paris, with more than half the field still in the sun. Hopefully this will give the US a chance to reset.
Brazil have a number of chances in the US penalty area, but Naeher is able to stop one and move the ball to the other side of the pitch.
A foul on Sophia Smith earns the USWNT another free kick from inside the center circle; it goes a bit too far, but Swanson is able to save it and get it to Rodman. Rodman’s kick, however, goes straight to Lorena.
Mallory Swanson makes a beautiful run down the side, but Lorena makes an incredible save for the USWNT and keeps the score on the board.
Mallory Swanson takes another penalty, but it goes straight to Brazilian keeper Lorena. Swanson is taking corners for the US this match, as Rose Lavelle, normally the designated corner kick taker, is not starting.
Brazil captain Adriana is unhappy that contact with Crystal Dunn in the penalty area is not punished. The VAR and the referee in the middle consult, but decide that it is not a penalty. Another bullet dodged for the United States.
This has been a very fast-paced game so far, which is not ideal for a USWNT team that has played five games in less than two weeks. The USWNT usually thrives when they can control the ball, but Brazil is not giving them that opportunity.
Brazil’s best chance is to maintain the pace and pressure. It will be a battle to score first — whoever gets the first point is likely to carry that momentum until the end.
The US are lucky again, as a Brazilian cross passes Naomi Girma but also misses the intended target.
A sigh of relief for the US as Ludmila scores a cracker for Brazil, but is ruled offside. Brazil have much more luck getting past the US back line, and it’s a little too close for comfort.
Another corner after Trinity Rodman — after a bit of her classic dribbling trick — throws a through ball to Mallory Swanson, whose cross is sent out. But Swanson’s corner attempt hits the top of the net and is out.
The USA are awarded a corner kick, but the first is disallowed as the referee reprimands a number of Brazilian players in the penalty area. Mallory Swanson’s effort is then quickly headed away, giving Brazil a quick break on goal, but Crystal Dunn is able to slow things down.
