Aug 3, 2024; Paris, France; Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita (1) and United States ahead Sophia Smith (11) in the course of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer time Video games at Parc des Princes. Obligatory Credit score: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports activities Sophia Smith scored within the ninety fifth minute because the U.S. girls’s nationwide crew superior to the gold medal match of the Paris Olympics with a 1-0 victory over Germany on Tuesday in Lyon, France.
The Individuals will play both Brazil or Spain on Saturday in Paris with an opportunity for his or her fifth objective medal however first since 2012 in London.
Smith took a via ball from Mallory Swanson in stride on the suitable aspect of the field. Smith shielded the ball from defender Feli Rauch earlier than slotting a shot previous goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who was late in blocking the try.
Swanson and Smith have three targets and two assists every within the 5 match matches.
Alyssa Naeher made a leaping save together with her left foot within the 119th minute on a close-range header by Laura Freigang to protect the win.
Naeher made seven saves for the U.S, which has outscored its opponents 11-2 on the Olympics. Berger had 9 saves.
This was the second scoreless semifinal via regulation within the historical past of the ladies’s match, matching Sweden vs. Brazil in 2016.
The U.S. additionally wanted an extra-time objective (105+2 minute) by Trinity Rodman to down Japan 1-0 within the quarterfinals on Saturday. The USWNT has performed consecutive extra-time matches for the second time, beforehand doing so within the semifinal and gold medal matches of the 2004 Olympics (wins vs. Germany and Brazil).
The U.S. was favored, having defeated Germany 4-1 in group play on July 28. It was 3-1 on the half in that one however the USWNT could not discover the breakthrough rating within the rematch via 45 minutes regardless of having taken 5 of the six photographs on course, though none may very well be thought-about top quality.
The USWNT has received a medal in each match since its inception on the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Along with the 4 golds, the U.S. earned a silver medal in 2000 and a bronze in 2020. The Individuals misplaced to Sweden within the quarterfinals in 2016 on penalties.
Saturday may very well be redemption for this system after its failure on the 2023 Girls’s World Cup when the U.S. failed to succeed in the semifinals for the primary time in 9 tries.
–Area Degree Media
