.Sam Borden, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is an elderly writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The united state females's nationwide group gained the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, beating South america, 1-0, in an activity that needed a stout defensive fill in the first half observed through a specific and also estimated rise in the second to deny South america and its own famous captain Marta.It was actually a familiar ending to a tournament that had actually been a lot about what is actually brand new for the USWNT: A new coach in Emma Hayes, a brand-new frontline of enemies and also a new overview after the dissatisfaction of final summer season's Female's Planet Mug all harmonized together to result in a record-extending 5th Olympic name, and initially given that 2012, for the U.S. females, who never tracked at any type of aspect in their six matches in France.Mallory Swanson scored the succeeding target in the 57th min along with a glossy finish after going through on goal, however young midfielder Korbin Albert-- who supplied the reception-- and Sophia Johnson, who wisely broke away from the stage show after recognizing she remained in an offside posture, were the companies. Once Swanson buckled her chance past Brazil goalkeeper Lorena, the group at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Cruise ship and Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's 4th target of the tournament, the majority of among the Americans and also matched for second-most amongst all players in the competition. Brazil, which had been actually in demand for much of game's beginning, remained to precipitate in search of a counterpoise yet could not find its own technique by means of. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her staff's very most useful player in the first fifty percent, carried out certainly not allow a goal in the knockout rounds.The match was actually used the very same area where the guys's teams from Spain and also France participated in out an eight-goal standard in their ultimate a day earlier, and also women's groups started at a rate that at least hinted at a possible offensive rockets, too.Mallory Swanson's objective delivered a fifth gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a decision which was understandable-- the team had just trumped France and also Spain while she provided a red-card suspension-- but still really felt weird. As well as Hayes went down Rose Lavelle from her schedule in favor of Albert, an appearing to be salute to Lavelle's personal injury record and also the option of added time. It goes without saying, it was a selection that worked out perfectly.As they performed in their distress of Spain, the Brazilians emerged pressing. Inside 2 mins, Ludmila possessed a close-range go conserved through Naeher, an early wake-up call that seemed like an arrowhead dodged. Unbothered, South america maintained happening. Adriana danced deftly on completion pipe and also virtually drew a penalty from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila transformed Naomi Girma and castigated a shot into the net that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho trumped Tierna Davidson as well as only overlooked Ludmila along with an unsafe cross before goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had instants, also. Trio Rodman's magical spin at midfield delivered her soaring towards target and also Swanson used her velocity too to pull an edge yet Brazil consistently experienced much more hazardous. Otherwise for Naeher-- that provided an enchanting reaction save of Portilho in first-half stoppage opportunity-- the U.S. will have been actually well responsible for at the break.Instead, they equaled as well as able to follow out along with greater necessity and endurance. Smith went across just out of Swanson's scope and also Sam Coffey that skided broad to get the USA crowd back into it before Albert located her area. A quick glimpse, an exciting elapsed and South america was reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics as well as what is actually anticipated to become her final international, began at the hour but was actually continuously shut in. 4 minutes into 10 minutes of halt time, Adriana drove a diving header at target coming from close quarters that Naeher-- again == knocked away.Marta placed her hands on her head. The United States fans shouted in merriment. One year after astonishing dissatisfaction, the USWNT was back.