.Sam Borden, ESPN Elder WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is actually a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The USA women's national staff won the Olympic gold award on Sunday, hammering Brazil, 1-0, in a video game that needed a stout defensive fill in the 1st half complied with by an accurate as well as calculated surge in the 2nd to refuse South america as well as its own epic leader Marta.It was a known ending to a competition that had been actually a lot about what's brand new for the USWNT: A brand-new coach in Emma Hayes, a brand new frontline of attackers and also a brand new overview after the disappointment of final summer months's Women's Globe Cup all meshed all together to result in a record-extending 5th Olympic name, and initially since 2012, for the U.S. girls, that never ever routed at any sort of aspect in their 6 suits in France.Mallory Swanson scored the succeeding goal in the 57th minute with a slick end after going through on target, however younger midfielder Korbin Albert-- that supplied the ball-- as well as Sophia Smith, who smartly fled coming from the stage show after recognizing she resided in an offside setting, were actually the facilitators. The moment Swanson curled her chance past South america goalkeeper Lorena, the group at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Voyage and also Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was actually Swanson's fourth goal of the event, many amongst the Americans and also matched for second-most one of all players in the competition. South america, which had been in demand for a lot of game's early stages, continued to precipitate searching for an equalizer yet couldn't find its own technique with. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her group's most useful player in the initial half, carried out not permit an objective in the knockout rounds.The suit was actually played on the exact same industry where the guys's crews from Spain and also France played out an eight-goal classic in their final a day earlier, and girls's teams started at a pace that at least hinted at a potential offending fireworks, too.Mallory Swanson's objective supplied a 5th gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil began without Marta, a selection which was reasonable-- the team had simply trumped France and Spain while she offered a red-card suspension-- yet still felt unusual. As well as Hayes lost Flower Lavelle coming from her lineup for Albert, an appearing to be salute to Lavelle's personal injury past and the possibility of additional time. It goes without saying, it was actually a choice that exercised perfectly.As they did in their trouble of Spain, the Brazilians came out pressing. Inside two mins, Ludmila possessed a close-range chance conserved through Naeher, a very early cautionary tale that believed that an arrow evaded. Unbothered, South america kept coming. Adriana danced deftly on the end pipe and nearly attracted a charge coming from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila turned Naomi Girma and also castigated a fired right into the web that was dismissed for offside. Gabi Portilho defeated Tierna Davidson and just overlooked Ludmila with a dangerous cross facing goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans possessed seconds, too. Trio Rodman's enchanting twist at midfield delivered her soaring towards objective and also Swanson utilized her velocity as well to draw a section but Brazil always experienced a lot more unsafe. Otherwise for Naeher-- that provided a magical response save of Portilho in first-half discontinuance time-- the U.S. would certainly possess been well responsible for at the break.Instead, they were level and also capable to find out along with greater necessity and verve. Johnson traversed just out of Swanson's reach and Sam Coffey had a crack that skided wide to receive the U.S. crowd back in to it before Albert found her room. A fast glimpse, a powerful pass and also South america was actually reeling.Marta, playing in her 6th Olympics as well as what is anticipated to become her final worldwide, came on at the hour however was constantly boxed up. Four moments right into 10 mins of discontinuance time, Adriana pushed a diving header at target coming from close quarters that Naeher-- once more == whacked away.Marta put her hands on her scalp. The American fans chanted in glee. One year after incredible frustration, the USWNT was back.