Brazil vs USWNT Paris 2024 Olympics final Highlights: Swanson nets winner as USA wins Women’s soccer gold

The United States rides of Mallory Swanson’s goal to win the the gold medal at the Olympics after 12 years! Hard luck for Marta but this is Emma Hayes’ moment in the sun as she wins her first major trophy as USWNT head coach.

United States beats Brazil 1-0 to win women’s soccer gold at Paris 2024 Olympics

Mallory Swanson scored the winner as the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) beat Brazil 1-0 to win its fifth gold medal at the Olympic Games, at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

Brazil catches USA by surprise as Laena takes a flying header in the box and Naeher meets it with equal quality to deny a certain equaliser for the Brazilians.

In: Lynn Williams, Out: Sophia Smith

Horan tries to set up Albert in front of the box and his left-footed hit curls and dips just past the woodwork, causing no real trouble for Brazil.

Horan steps up for the free-kick and her left-footer hits the wall. She tries another shot on rebound but the ball curls past the target.

Brazil looks to lack a bit of discipline as Tarciane stops Sophia Smith in front of the penalty box with a harsh challenge. The referee gives her a yellow card straight away. 

Emma Hayes looks to be immersed in letting her players know that they have he lead and now, mentality will play a crucial role. After a brief chat in the second cooling break, play resumes and USWNT remains on the driving seat.

Marta gets the ball in the midfield and tries to set up Adriana Leal in the final third. But the shot has too much force as it goes out of play before Leal could get to it.

In: Emily Sonnett, Out: Tierna Davidson

The USWNT looks to have found fresh life after the goal but Brazil earns a corner, which sees Tarciane head the ball out of play for a goal-kick. 

Lauren tries to track back and pulls a muscle in her left thigh. She goes to the ground wreathing in pain and it will be Brazil’s second in-play injury in this match, after Yaya. Luckily, Lauren is back on her feet.

The USWNT is all over the Brazilian side now, with its fourth attack in as many minutes, with Sophia Smith getting to the ball along the left. She cuts in to her right and then shoots just off-target.

The United States is stretching the Brazilian defence and this time Rodman gets the ball along the right, she shifts to her left and tries a left-footed curler, which flies off-target.

Marta takes the pitch, finally, as one of the three changes made by Brazil after the hour mark.

In: Priscila, Angelina, Marta

Out: Jheniffre, Ludmila, Sampaio

Talking about timing and just when Brazil was looking to press USA, Hayes’ girls attack against the run of play, with Swanson getting a through ball along the left. She cuts to her right and then beats Lorena to find the breakthrough for the USWNT.

Swanson has done it and what a way to do it, on her 100th NT appearance.

Emma Hayes is busy shouting from the sidelines to quicken the attack, to go faster but Brazil has kept the Americans in a spot really.

Brazil tries the long ball approach for a goal and Ludmila tries to receive it in the box. However, Emily Fox intercepts the chance to earn a foul in United States’ favour and put that attack to bed.

The United States attacks right after play resumes and Rodman gets the ball into the final third with a quick run along the right flank. She crosses into the centre but Brazil’s defence intercepts and clears the ball out of danger.

There looks to be an injury problem in the women’s game as Brazil’s Yaya is stretchered off the field and Vitoria replaces her in the midfield.

Brazil attacks along the right flank, through Portilho, but the USWNT makes a timely challenge to deny her into the box.

Brazil begins the second half, looking to win its maiden gold medal in women’s soccer at the Olympic Games. On its way, stands the USWNT, the most successful team in the competition.

Despite both sides coming close to scoring, an off-side goal by Ludmila and two crucial saves by Alyssa Naeher keeps the score locked at 0-0, at the Parc des Princes in France.

Brazil’s set-piece attempt has another shot on target by Gabi Porthillo and Naeher makes a great reflex save to deny another certain goal to keep it all square in the last moments of half-time.

Ludmila gets the ball in her half and tries a solo run. However, Albert shrugs her off, out of play and the referee blows the whistle for a foul. Brazil appeals for a card, beyond a free-kick, but the referee lets the No. 3 go with a verbal warning.

Horan tries to get the ball out of their half and Yaya fouls her to stop play, ending that development for the Brazilians.

The USA and Brazil have faced each other twice in the final of women’s soccer (football). And both times, the Americans have come out victorious.

The USWNT has maintained its defence really well since the break to keep Brazil quiet so far, after the break. Brazil, on the other hand, has gone more physical to slave off the American attack.

The teams assemble in front of their dugouts for a small break, to regroup and start again. 

The match resumes with the same fire after restart, with Lorena kicking the ball away before Swanson could get to it. The Brazil goalkeeper, however, injures herself in the process.

The match is finally having some breathing space for the players after riveting action at both ends of the ground. Despite Ludmilla finding the net -- which was disallowed -- nothing separates the two sides at the moment.

Brazil attacks against the run of play yet again and Yasmine Ribeiro gets to the ball with her head but Dunn makes a timely clearance, hoofing the ball out of danger

Brazil, surprisingly, has dominated the attack in this match so far but USA attacks on the counter, with Swanson marauding along the left flank, cutting in and forcing a save. Rodman tries to get a shot on the return and earns a corner.

Leal goes down in the box, after a challenge by Dunn, and the Brazilian gets up to appeal for a penalty immediately. The referee has a chat with the VAR and concludes that there is NO PENALTY.

The match is slowly getting more physical with Ribeiro and Rodman getting together while Swanson was involved in a challenge, seconds earlier.

Ludmilla wins the ball in the final third, keeps the ball stuck to her feet as she cuts in from the right and rattles the net with a brilliant goal. But her celebrations are cut short as the off-side flag is up and the referee, after a VAR check, upholds the off-side decision.

USA is looking to put its foot on the gas with attack much higher and Smith falls into the offside trap as a result and the match official along the sidelines raises the flag.

Swanson’s corner lands on the top of the net and the score remains goalless as another chance for USA ends to nothing.

However, Portinho’s run is stopped by Dunn and then USA tries to go for another attack and earns a corner on the right.

Mallory Swanson staves off his marker along the left flank and crosses for Sophia Smith, whose shot is deflected out for a corner. USA’s corner is cleared by Brazil, which then tries a counterattack.

Just eight minutes into the game and it has already looked like an end-to-end affair, here at the French capital. USA has dominated possession marginally at 57 percent to Brazil’s 43 so far.

Dunn tries to get a long ranger into the net as she gets to the ball left by Smith but his shot lacks enough force as the ball lands safely into the gloves pf Lorena Leite.

Swanson wins a free-kick for USA outside the box. But the set-piece opportunity comes to nothing as Horan fails to get her head to the ball.

Ludmilla gets a through ball into the box and she tries to keep the ball rooted to the ground with a shot on target. But Alyssa Naeher makes a regulation save to deny the opening goal.

Brazil is looking to attack through balls in the centre but USA, keeping Albert as a cover, in front of a four-player defence, clears the ball away.

The United States gets the ball rolling from left to right while Brazil starts from the other side. The last time the two sides met in the final was in 2008 when USA won the match 1-0.

Brazil starts in a 3-4-3 formation, with Jheniffer as the centre-forward while the United States starts in a 4-1-2-3 shape with Mallory Swanson as the leader of the attack.

The players wait in the tunnel, ready to take the field, ready to fight toe-to-toe for the gold medal. The USWNT starts in blue and red while Brazil is in its iconic yellow and blue kit as they walk out of the tunnel.

Marta, the Brazilian football legend, can play a role in her last international game as her country faces USA in the final. Marta, however, is starting from the bench and is expected to take the field later.

“We had a tough year last year in every way possible. But I feel like this is a new year and we’re really just showing the world that we never did drop off. We just needed a learning year and a growth year. We’re back, and hopefully on top after this next game.”

- USWNT Sophia Smith

Only two players, starting for USA (Alyssa Naeher, Crystal Dunn - 2019 World Cup) have appeared in a major tournament final before, the fewest in any final starting XI for the USWNT since the 1991 World Cup Final (none), the first in the team’s history.

(Source: Opta)

Lorena, Tarciane, Duda Sampaio, Vitoria Yaya, Adriana (captain), Jheniffer, Yasmim, Ludmila, Thais, Gabi Portilho, Lauren.

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Just when it appeared the U.S. had conceded its dominance with an early exit from Women’s World Cup, the Americans have roared back under new coach Emma Hayes with an undefeated run in the Paris Olympics.

There’s one more hurdle: The U.S. faces Brazil for the gold medal on Saturday at Parc des Princes. 

“We had a tough year last year in every way possible,” forward Sophia Smith said. “But I feel like this is a new year and we’re really just showing the world that we never did drop off. We just needed a learning year and a growth year. We’re back, and hopefully on top after this next game.” 

The United States is the most successful team at the Olympics with four gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

Read the full preview here: USWNT seeks to restore world dominance with gold on line against Brazil