August 10, (THEWILL) – The United States women’s football team clinched their fifth Olympic gold medal, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final at Parc des Princes on Saturday.
Mallory Swanson scored the winning goal just before the hour mark, marking her 100th international appearance with a decisive strike.
This victory marks the USA’s first Olympic title in 12 years, adding to their previous golds from 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012. For Brazil, it was another near miss, as they settled for silver, mirroring their results from the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
The match was notable for several reasons beyond the scoreline. It was the last Olympic appearance for Brazilian legend Marta, who at 38 years old, bowed out with her third silver medal. The USA’s triumph also validated the impact of their new English coach, Emma Hayes, who took over in late May and quickly turned around a team that had exited the 2023 World Cup in the last 16.
Brazil fought hard in the hot conditions but could not find an equaliser after Swanson’s goal. They had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half and created some chances, but USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
The victory cements the USA’s status as the most successful team in Olympic women’s football history. It also represents a significant turnaround for a team that faced criticism after their early World Cup exit just a year ago, demonstrating their ability to bounce back at the highest level.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
