The USWNT are one victory away from a gold medal
By Pardeep Cattry
• 1 min read
The U.S. women's national team advanced to the gold medal match at the Olympics on Tuesday, defeating Germany 1-0 in extra time courtesy of a goal from Sophia Smith.
The game's lone goal came in the 95th minute, when Smith received the ball following a quick pass from Mallory Swanson. With goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger and defender Felicitas Rauch running toward the ball, it provided the perfect opening for Smith to hit the ball first time and score her third goal of the competition.
The U.S. are back in the gold medal game for the first time since 2012, when they won the top prize in London. They await the winner of Brazil's semifinal against Spain in Paris on Saturday.
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USA 1, GER 0
96' The USWNT finally break the deadlock, with Sophia Smith scoring her third goal of the competition. She receives a quick pass from Mallory Swanson and hits it first time on the edge of the penalty area, just as Ann-Katrin Berger and Felicitas Rauch dart for the ball at the same time and leave the net empty.
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FT: USA 1, GER 0
For the first time since 2012, the USWNT will be back in the gold medal match. Sophia Smith's extra time goal was matched by Alyssa Naeher's goalkeeping heroics to preserve the U.S.' lead, keeping the USWNT's redemption story alive after last year's disappointment at the Women's World Cup. The U.S. were imperfect but they won't care right now. The focus shifts to the gold medal match on Saturday in Paris, where either Brazil or Spain await.
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Alyssa Naeher comes up big again
119' Germany earn a freekick just outside the peanlty area and though the USWNT's wall blocks the initial chance, Alyssa Naeher is forced to make the biggest save of the game on the rebound with her foot. The U.S. counter and Sophia Smith is in front of goal just moments later, though Ann-Katrin Berger makes a save that forces a corner.
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Alyssa Naeher makes another catch
114' Germany earn another corner and it appears that Jule Brand gets the last touch on the ball in another convincing chance. Alyssa Naeher's up for the challenge, though, and leaps off the goal line to make a very important catch.
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Another USWNT change
110' Casey Krueger comes on for Mallory Swanson as the USWNT aim to preserve their lead.
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Alyssa Naeher comes up big
107' Germany, no surprise, go for goal and they make their way too easily down the right flank, allowing Giulia Gwinn to take a convincing shot from an angle. Alyssa Naeher dives out to make a commanding catch, though, keeping her clean sheet in the process.
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Another change for Germany
106' Germany kick off the second period of extra time with another change -- Sara Doorsoun comes on for Felicitas Rauch.
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USWNT go for goal
105' The USWNT seem to be connecting well in the middle of the park and are building promising attacking plays now, with a shot from Trinity Rodman sailing just wide and one from Sophia Smith forcing a save from Ann-Katrin Berger. The momentum has swung the U.S.' way, but Germany aren't out of this one yet -- Alyssa Naeher was just forced into a save during a corner.
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Klara Buhl goes for goal
95' Klara Buhl bags the first big chance of extra time, winning after going one-v-one with Emily Fox. She's able to pull off a shot from an angle but Alyssa Naeher makes the stop.
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Extra time begins
The teams have an extra sub, and so both coaches are taking advantage of that. Lindsey Horan and Crystal Dunn are off for the USWNT, and in come Korbin Albert and Jenna Nighswonger. Germany, meanwhile, bring on Elisa Senss for Sydney Lohmann.
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To extra time we go
Germany's freekick in the last minute of regular time serves as the best chance of stoppage time and though Alyssa Naeher's catch is a little sloppy, the attempt does little to trouble the USWNT. We're officially off to extra time for a second game running -- it's the first time the U.S. will play back-to-back extra time periods at the Olympics since Athens in 2004.
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Steady pressure from the USWNT
89' The U.S. are constantly running at goal in the dying minutes of regular time, building something promising that eventually fizzles out. That includes plays from the likes of Mallory Swanson and Lindsey Horan, as well as a goal from Swanson that's quickly -- and correctly -- ruled offside. It's becoming a frantic finish for the USWNT as they hope to avoid extra time yet again, but Germany have done well in terms of last-ditch defending to keep this scoreless.
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Trinity Rodman creating things
82' The USWNT have dominating the last few minutes, in large part because Trinity Rodman is making some very important runs on the right flank. In the latest case, she sends the ball to Sophia Smith who later finds Lindsey Horan. The captain has to make a play despite all the traffic in front of her and goes for goal, with the shot immediately blocked by one of several Germany defenders in front of her.
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Lindsey Horan nearly scores
79' The USWNT earn another corner and they nearly pull this one off as Lindsey Horan goes for a header from close range. Ann-Katrin Berger's in a strong position to make the save and so she does, keeping this one scoreless. Shortly before the corner, Bibiane Schulze comes on for Marina Hegering, who appeared to pick up an injury.
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Janina Minge's shot from distance
74' These teams are doing a good enough job of keeping the opponent out of the box, limiting them to few meaningful chances in the second half. That doesn't stop Germany's Janina Minge from taking a shot from distance, though Alyssa Naeher's up for the task and catches the ball with few problems.
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Germany make a sub
70' Laura Freigang comes on for Nicole Anyomi, offering some fresh legs for Germany as they chase the game's opening goal.
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Mallory Swanson shoots wide
63' The USWNT's best play of the half starts with Naomi Girma having the ball in the defensive half and ends with Mallory Swanson receiving the ball near the box and running towards goal. Swanson ends up drifting wide and misses her window of opportunity, taking the shot while she's a little too close to the touchline and sending the ball into the side netting rather than into the back of the net.
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Lynn Williams comes on
60' Emma Hayes goes to her bench much earlier than she did last time, bringing on Lynn Williams for Rose Lavelle as the U.S. look for the game's opening goal. The substitution is delayed by a potential injury to Trinity Rodman, and though she spends a couple of minutes on the ground, she's back up and ready to continue.
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Jule Brand dictates play
56' Jule Brand is causing problems yet again for the USWNT, combining well with Sydney Lohmann, who then sends a cross across goal. It does not land at the feet of a teammate and after some back and forth in the box, Naomi Girma is crucially able to force the play away from the box. This early part of the second half has been dominated by Germany but they have still been limited in meaningful chances -- a bit like Japan were despite their promise to start the second half against the U.S. on Saturday.
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Jule Brand carves out space
49' Germany have the first promising look of the second half as Jule Brand bursts in between two defenders and plays a smart pass in front of goal. Though the USWNT are able to escape trouble quickly, Brand's ability to squeeze into tight spaces will be a tricky thing for the U.S. to deal with -- she's been Germany's most important player in attack so far today.
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Second half underway
The USWNT make one change at the half, with Emily Sonnett coming on for Tierna Davidson. It's unclear if this is related to the knee contusion Davidson has been dealing with for the last 10 days, but Sonnet has been her understudy during her spell on the sidelines.
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HT: USA 0, GER 0
The good news is that even though the USWNT are scoreless at the break for the second game running, this game doesn't look much like the last one. Both teams are open enough to go for goal, with the U.S. leading the way with 64% of the ball and seven shots to Germany's two. The fact that they have five on target and no goals, though, might be a cause for concern if the USWNT can't find a way to break the deadlock in the second half.
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USWNT's half chances
42' The USWNT have been in control of possession these last few minutes, creating some chances that start off promising. In the end, though, Germany step up to the plate to either keep the U.S. out of the box or to kill the play as soon as they enter the penalty area.
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Lindsey Horan with a header
31' Kathrin-Julia Hendrich fouls Sophia Smith to give the USWNT a freekick, which Rose Lavelle takes. There's a bit of back and forth in the box but the play ends with a header from Lindsey Horan in the box, though there's not enough speed on the ball to create a meaningful scoring opportunity there.
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Germany go for goal again
28' Germany take another shot, this time courtesy of Sjoeke Nusken in the center of the box. She can't get the attempt on frame but it's a convincing effort, though the USWNT will not be happy with the fact that Germany moved through their midfield seamlessly to do so. It wouldn't be the first time the U.S.' midfield has looked disjointed -- this has more or less been the case since Sam Mewis was forced out of the team with injuries, which then forced her to retire. The solve for this will likely come after the Olympics, but for now, it's about surviving that and taking advantage of what's working well.
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Alyssa Naeher with the save
25' Germany's pressure finally results in their first shot, courtesy of Jule Brand. She takes a shot from an angle and Alyssa Naeher dives to meet it, while Crystal Dunn is nearby to sweep the ball away from any trouble.
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Germany earn a set piece
18' Germany carve out their most promising goalscoring chance courtesy of a set piece, but as Kathrin-Julia Hendrich attempts to make something of it, Crystal Dunn provides enough cover to stop the play in its tracks. That's just the start of a small period of possession for Germany, though the USWNT's defense is doing well so far to absorb the pressure. Germany are still waiting to take their first shot.
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USWNT with a freekick
13' Kathrin-Julia Hendrich fouls Sophia Smith just outside the penalty area, teeing up a promising opportunity directly from a freekick. Lindsey Horan steps up to take it but Germany's wall is up for the task and after a bit of back-and-forth in and around the penalty area, the ball goes out for a corner. Rose Lavelle takes it but Germany are able to clear the ball out of the box.
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Sophia Smith takes a shot
7' The USWNT register another shot on target, this time with Rose Lavelle sending the ball Sophia Smith's way before her shot is saved by Ann-Katrin Berger. It may be these players' fifth game in 13 days on a 93°F day in Lyon but they are not playing like it so far.
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Rose Lavelle goes for goal
4' The USWNT have their first shot on goal, courtesy of Rose Lavelle. A quick little buildup play allows the U.S. to pounce on some space in the box, eventually resulting in Trinity Rodmanmaking a light and smart pass to Lavelle to her left. Lavelle then takes a shot that forces a save out of Ann-Katrin Berger, but the attempt marks an encouraging start for the USWNT.
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