.Sam Borden, ESPN Elder WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The united state women's national group gained the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, hammering Brazil, 1-0, in a video game that called for a stout protective stand in the first fifty percent followed through an exact and also computed surge in the 2nd to refuse South america and also its own legendary leader Marta.It was a familiar finishing to a tournament that had actually been actually a great deal about what is actually brand new for the USWNT: A brand-new instructor in Emma Hayes, a new frontline of assailants and a brand new expectation after the dissatisfaction of last summer's Women's World Mug all harmonized all together to lead to a record-extending 5th Olympic name, and also first because 2012, for the united state women, that never routed at any kind of point in their 6 matches in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the winning target in the 57th moment along with a slick finish after going through on goal, however youthful midfielder Korbin Albert-- that provided the reception-- and also Sophia Johnson, who wisely ran away coming from the stage show after discovering she resided in an offside setting, were the companies. Once Swanson buckled her go past Brazil goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Voyage as well as Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was actually Swanson's fourth target of the competition, the majority of amongst the Americans and also matched for second-most among all players in the competition. Brazil, which had actually been in demand for a lot of video game's onset, continued to push forward looking for a counterpoise yet couldn't discover its own means by means of. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her group's most useful gamer in the very first fifty percent, carried out not enable an objective in the knockout rounds.The suit was actually played on the exact same industry where the guys's staffs from Spain and also France participated in out an eight-goal classic in their final a time earlier, and also girls's crews began at a rate that at least meant a possible repulsive fireworks, 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 understandable-- the group had actually just beaten France and Spain while she offered a red-card revocation-- yet still experienced peculiar. And Hayes dropped Flower Lavelle coming from her lineup in favor of Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's injury history and also the probability of additional opportunity. Obviously, it was actually a choice that exercised perfectly.As they did in their distress of Spain, the Brazilians emerged pushing. Inside two mins, Ludmila had a close-range chance spared through Naeher, a very early cautionary tale that felt like an arrowhead dodged. Unbothered, South america kept coming. Adriana danced deftly on the end pipe and almost drew a fine from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila transformed Naomi Girma and whipped a fired into the web that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho defeated Tierna Davidson as well as just missed Ludmila with a hazardous cross in front of goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had minutes, as well. Trinity Rodman's magical spin at midfield delivered her soaring towards target and Swanson utilized her speed also to attract an edge yet Brazil regularly really felt much more hazardous. Otherwise for Naeher-- who provided a magical response save of Portilho in first-half standstill time-- the USA would possess been properly behind at the break.Instead, they were level and also capable to come out along with higher necessity and sparkle. Johnson crossed contemporary of Swanson's reach as well as Sam Coffey that skided broad to get the united state group back in to it just before Albert discovered her area. A simple glimpse, a heady pass and Brazil was reeling.Marta, playing in her 6th Olympics and what is counted on to be her ultimate international, started at the hr yet was continuously repressed. Four minutes into 10 mins of standstill opportunity, Adriana pressed a diving header at goal from close quarters that Naeher-- again == swatted away.Marta placed her hands on her scalp. The American fans shouted in merriment. One year after extraordinary disappointment, the USWNT was actually back.