PARIS – The United States advanced to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Final at Paris 2024 after winning 1-nil against Germany, after extra time, in the semifinals on Tuesday at the Lyon Stadium in Lyon, France.
After meeting in the group stage, both teams had a familiarity with the other that kept the match scoreless during regular time. The U.S. women would break through with a goal in extra time to secure their place in the final while avoiding the uncertainty of a penalty shootout.
Rose Lavelle had the first chance for the four-time Olympic Champions with a long-distance attempt in the 4’, but the ball ended up in the gloves of German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Germany had a chance at the match's first goal in the 20’ from a corner kick, but USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher cleared the attempt.
Naeher was tested again in the 23’ after forward Jule Brand sent a shot to her right post, but the score remained scoreless.
American defender Naomi Girma controlled the ball through the middle of the pitch to connect with forward Mallory Swanson in the 62’, who tried her luck in the German area but hit the side netting.
Lindsey Horan struck off a corner kick in the 79, sending a header to Berger’s area, but the German goalkeeper again denied the Americans.
Swanson connected with Crystal Dunn in the 86’ but the goal was called offside, as the U.S. attempted to decide the match in regular time.
✨ She's in her scoring goals at the Olympics era. ✨ pic.twitter.com/xEf2QO7lFE
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 6, 2024
The match went to extra time, where the USWNT were finally able to break the deadlock.
Sophia Smith struck in the 95’ with a shot to the low left corner, scoring her third goal in the tournament and the match-winner for the United States.
The victory sends the USWNT back to the gold medal match at the Summer Olympics for the first time since London 2012. The U.S. will seek to win a record fifth gold medal when it meets Brazil on Saturday, August 10, at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
The gold medal match between the U.S. and Brazil will mark a rematch of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup last March. Lindsey Horan scored the lone goal of that encounter to close the tournament's inaugural edition.