Mallory Swanson’s decisive goal secured the United States a 1-0 victory over Brazil in Saturday’s Olympic women’s football final, earning the team their fifth gold medal, a record-extending achievement.
Brazil put up a strong fight on a sweltering afternoon at the Parc des Princes, but the USA broke the deadlock just before the hour mark when Swanson, celebrating her 100th cap, raced through and calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Lorena.
This triumph marks the USA’s first Olympic gold in 12 years, adding to their titles from 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012. The USA has now defeated Brazil in three of these finals, with the South Americans once again having to settle for silver, just as they did in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
The match did not provide the fairy-tale ending that Brazil’s legendary captain Marta had hoped for, as the 38-year-old concluded her sixth and final Olympics with a third silver medal.
Despite Brazil’s unexpected journey to the final, the USA’s victory underscores their resurgence under new English coach Emma Hayes. Hayes, who joined the team from Chelsea in late May, has quickly revitalized the squad that had exited last year’s World Cup in the round of 16.
That World Cup campaign, held in Australia and New Zealand, was the final international appearance for USWNT icon Megan Rapinoe, who was among the spectators for Saturday’s final, along with actor Tom Cruise.
In the lead-up to the final, much of the focus was on Marta, who was eligible for a farewell Olympic appearance after serving a two-game suspension for a red card in Brazil’s final group stage match.
However, coach Arthur Elias opted to start the 38-year-old multiple FIFA World Player of the Year award winner on the bench, possibly considering the exhausting conditions and the need for his team to physically compete with the USA.
Marta, in her younger years, had played in Brazil’s extra-time defeats in the 2004 and 2008 finals. This Olympic final was also the second meeting between the two nations this year, following the USA’s 1-0 victory over Brazil in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup final in San Diego in March.
Since then, the USA welcomed Hayes as their new coach, and she guided them to victories over Japan and Germany in the knockout stages, leading to their eventual triumph in the Olympic final.
