Emma Hayes secured her first main honour as head coach of the USWNT on Saturday with a 1-0 win towards Brazil to say gold on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
The USA had been concentrating on their fifth Olympic gold medal having beforehand received the competitors in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012. Brazil, however, had been hoping to safe their first gold medal having secured silver medals towards the USA in each 2004 and 2008.
Brazil began the sport the higher facet and surprisingly noticed extra possession within the first half towards their opponent. On the break, Brazil had three pictures heading in the right direction in comparison with the USA’s two.
Moments earlier than half time, Gabi Portilho very practically gave Brazil a deserved lead, however she was denied by an excellent save by USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Hayes’ facet required main enhancements within the second half, most notably in passing accuracy, with simply 55% on the midway stage.
They did precisely that because it took just a little over ten minutes within the second half for the USA to interrupt the impasse. A through-ball from Korbin Albert was picked up by Mallory Swanson, who was in a position to beat the offside entice, and he or she positioned a right-footed effort into the underside nook to provide her facet the lead.
Brazil responded to going behind by bringing on Marta for one remaining dance. The 38-year-old missed their earlier knockout video games attributable to suspension however, with half-hour left to play, Brazil wanted to throw the whole lot on the USA as a way to claw their manner again into the sport and turned to the enduring veteran.
The USA seemed comfy for the rest of the sport as Brazil’s have to get ahead left areas in behind for them to use. The likes of Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman got here near extending their lead, however the one purpose proved to be sufficient.
Brazil’s modifications allowed them to create some constructive moments within the latter phases of the sport, together with a free-kick from Marta that curled narrowly over the bar, however Arthur Elias’ facet had been unable to regain the foothold and power they’d within the first 45 minutes.
Naeher produced one other goal-saving second in added time as Adriana tried a headed effort from the centre of the field. The USA goalkeeper obtained a powerful hand to it and cleared the hazard for the second time within the sport.
The USA had been in a position to dangle on within the remaining phases to clinch gold and spherical off the ladies’s soccer event on the 2024 Paris Olympics. For Hayes, she guided the USWNT to a significant honour after simply 10 video games in cost.
