.Sam Borden, ESPN Elder WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The U.S. ladies's nationwide team gained the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, beating South america, 1-0, in a video game that needed a stout defensive stand in the initial fifty percent adhered to by a specific as well as calculated surge in the second to refute South america and also its own famous captain Marta.It was a known ending to a tournament that had been actually a great deal regarding what is actually brand-new for the USWNT: A brand-new coach in Emma Hayes, a brand-new frontline of aggressors and a new expectation after the frustration of final summer's Women's Globe Mug all harmonized all together to result in a record-extending 5th Olympic title, as well as to begin with since 2012, for the united state females, that never ever trailed at any sort of point in their 6 matches in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the succeeding target in the 57th min with a slick finish after running through on target, but younger midfielder Korbin Albert-- that provided the reception-- as well as Sophia Johnson, that wisely broke away coming from the stage show after realizing she resided in an offside placement, were the companies. When Swanson crinkled her try past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the group at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Boat trip and Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was Swanson's fourth objective of the tournament, most amongst the Americans and also tied for second-most among all gamers in the competitors. South america, which had actually been in demand for a lot of game's early stages, remained to precipitate searching for an equalizer however could not locate its means through. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her team's most valuable player in the very first half, carried out not allow an objective in the knockout rounds.The suit was used the very same industry where the men's staffs coming from Spain as well as France participated in out an eight-goal classic in their last a day previously, and girls's staffs began at a rate that a minimum of meant a potential offending rockets, too.Mallory Swanson's objective delivered a fifth gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile by means of Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a selection which was actually easy to understand-- the team had actually just trumped France as well as Spain while she provided a red-card revocation-- however still experienced unusual. And also Hayes lost Rose Lavelle from her lineup for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's injury past as well as the probability of extra opportunity. Obviously, it was a choice that worked out perfectly.As they carried out in their trouble of Spain, the Brazilians showed up pushing. Inside two moments, Ludmila had a close-range try spared through Naeher, a very early wake-up call that felt like an arrowhead dodged. Unbothered, South america kept happening. Adriana danced deftly on completion line and almost drew a fine from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila transformed Naomi Girma and also blasted a shot in to the net that was ruled out for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and merely missed Ludmila along with a dangerous cross in front of goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had moments, as well. Trinity Rodman's magical spin at midfield delivered her flying in the direction of goal as well as Swanson used her velocity too to pull a corner but South america always really felt a lot more hazardous. If not for Naeher-- that provided a wonderful reaction save of Portilho in first-half deduction time-- the united state would have been actually effectively behind at the break.Instead, they equaled and also capable ahead out along with higher seriousness and endurance. Smith went across contemporary of Swanson's reach and also Sam Coffey that swerved broad to obtain the united state crowd back right into it just before Albert found her area. A fast glance, a strong elapsed and South america was actually reeling.Marta, playing in her 6th Olympics and what is expected to be her last global, came on at the hr yet was constantly bottled up. 4 minutes in to 10 mins of blockage time, Adriana pressed a diving header at objective coming from close quarters that Naeher-- once again == knocked away.Marta put her palms on her head. The American followers chanted in merriment. One year after fabulous disappointment, the USWNT was back.