.Sam Borden, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is a senior author for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The united state women's nationwide team won the Olympic gold award on Sunday, beating South america, 1-0, in a game that called for a stout defensive stand in the very first fifty percent followed by a precise and also computed rise in the second to reject Brazil as well as its famous captain Marta.It was actually a familiar finishing to a tournament that had actually been so much concerning what is actually brand-new for the USWNT: A brand-new train in Emma Hayes, a brand new frontline of assaulters and also a new overview after the disappointment of last summer's Women's Planet Cup all harmonized together to cause a record-extending fifth Olympic title, as well as to begin with because 2012, for the USA girls, who never tracked at any point in their six matches in France.Mallory Swanson scored the gaining goal in the 57th minute with a glossy finish after going through on target, yet youthful midfielder Korbin Albert-- who provided the ball-- as well as Sophia Smith, that wisely broke away coming from the stage show after understanding she was in an offside setting, were the facilitators. As soon as Swanson curled her shot past Brazil goalkeeper Lorena, the group at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Cruise line as well as Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was actually Swanson's 4th objective of the event, most among the Americans and also matched for second-most one of all players in the competition. South america, which had been actually in order for a lot of video game's early stages, continued to precipitate searching for an equalizer but could not locate its own means through. United state goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, that was her crew's very most valuable player in the 1st fifty percent, carried out not enable a goal in the knockout rounds.The suit was actually played on the exact same industry where the men's crews coming from Spain as well as France played out an eight-goal classic in their final a time previously, and also females's teams started at a rate that at least meant a prospective offensive fireworks, too.Mallory Swanson's goal supplied a fifth gold medal for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile through Getty ImagesBrazil began without Marta, a choice which was actually easy to understand-- the staff had actually merely beaten France as well as Spain while she offered a red-card suspension-- however still really felt odd. And also Hayes dropped Flower Lavelle coming from her lineup in favor of Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's personal injury background and also the probability of added time. Needless to say, it was a selection that exercised perfectly.As they did in their upset of Spain, the Brazilians emerged pushing. Inside two minutes, Ludmila had a close-range chance saved through Naeher, an early cautionary tale that seemed like an arrow evaded. Unbothered, South america always kept happening. Adriana danced deftly on the end pipe as well as virtually drew a fine from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila turned Naomi Girma as well as castigated a fired into the web that was eliminated for offside. Gabi Portilho beat Tierna Davidson and simply skipped Ludmila with an unsafe cross in front of goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans had seconds, also. Triad Rodman's enchanting twist at midfield delivered her flying in the direction of objective and also Swanson used her rate too to draw a section yet Brazil regularly experienced much more dangerous. If not for Naeher-- that supplied an enchanting reaction save of Portilho in first-half stoppage opportunity-- the USA would possess been actually properly behind at the break.Instead, they equaled and also capable to follow out along with greater urgency and also vigor. Smith went across contemporary of Swanson's grasp and also Sam Coffey had a crack that swerved wide to receive the USA group back into it before Albert found her room. A simple look, a stimulating pass as well as Brazil was reeling.Marta, playing in her sixth Olympics as well as what is expected to become her last international, started at the hour yet was actually frequently bottled up. Four moments right into 10 moments of standstill time, Adriana drove a diving header at goal coming from close quarters that Naeher-- once more == knocked away.Marta put her palms on her scalp. The American supporters shouted in glee. One year after fabulous dissatisfaction, the USWNT was actually back.