.Sam Borden, ESPN Elder WriterAug 10, 2024, 01:06 PM ETCloseSam Borden is a senior article writer for ESPN.com.PARIS-- The USA girls's national team succeeded the Olympic gold medal on Sunday, beating Brazil, 1-0, in a video game that needed a stout protective stand in the very first one-half followed by an exact and also calculated surge in the second to refuse South america and its own epic captain Marta.It was actually a known ending to a competition that had actually been actually a lot about what is actually new for the USWNT: A brand new instructor in Emma Hayes, a brand-new frontline of assailants as well as a new expectation after the disappointment of last summer months's Female's Globe Mug all harmonized together to result in a record-extending fifth Olympic title, and also to begin with due to the fact that 2012, for the U.S. ladies, who never trailed at any sort of factor in their six matches in France.Mallory Swanson racked up the winning goal in the 57th moment with a sleek finish after going through on target, however younger midfielder Korbin Albert-- who delivered the reception-- as well as Sophia Smith, who smartly fled coming from the stage show after discovering she was in an offside setting, were actually the companies. Once Swanson curled her go past Brazil goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes-- which included Tom Boat trip as well as Megan Rapinoe-- exploded.It was actually Swanson's fourth target of the competition, many one of the Americans and also matched for second-most among all players in the competition. Brazil, which had actually been in command for a lot of video game's beginning, remained to precipitate in search of a counterpoise however could not discover its means via. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her crew's most useful player in the very first half, carried out not permit a goal in the knockout rounds.The suit was played on the very same field where the guys's staffs from Spain as well as France participated in out an eight-goal classic in their last a day previously, and women's groups began at a speed that a minimum of mentioned a possible repulsive rockets, too.Mallory Swanson's goal provided a fifth gold award for the USWNT. Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile using Getty ImagesBrazil started without Marta, a choice which was easy to understand-- the group had actually merely beaten France as well as Spain while she served a red-card suspension-- however still felt peculiar. And Hayes dropped Rose Lavelle coming from her schedule for Albert, a seeming nod to Lavelle's accident record as well as the possibility of added opportunity. It goes without saying, it was a decision that exercised perfectly.As they performed in their upset of Spain, the Brazilians appeared pushing. Inside pair of moments, Ludmila possessed a close-range go saved through Naeher, an early cautionary tale that seemed like an arrowhead evaded. Unbothered, South america maintained coming. Adriana danced deftly on completion line and almost attracted a penalty coming from Crystal Dunn. Ludmila turned Naomi Girma and also blasted a fired right into the net that was eliminated for offside. Gabi Portilho trumped Tierna Davidson as well as merely missed out on Ludmila with a risky cross in front of goal.Editor's Picks1 RelatedThe Americans possessed seconds, as well. Trinity Rodman's enchanting twist at midfield delivered her flying towards target and Swanson utilized her rate too to draw an edge however South america regularly felt extra harmful. Or even for Naeher-- who delivered a magical response save of Portilho in first-half stoppage time-- the USA would have been well behind at the break.Instead, they were level and also able to find out along with more significant urgency as well as virility. Smith crossed just out of Swanson's scope as well as Sam Coffey that skided broad to receive the united state crowd back right into it prior to Albert located her room. A fast look, a powerful pass and Brazil was actually reeling.Marta, playing in her 6th Olympics and also what is anticipated to be her final international, started at the hour however was constantly bottled up. 4 mins in to 10 minutes of stoppage opportunity, Adriana pressed a diving header at goal from close quarters that Naeher-- once again == knocked away.Marta placed her hands on her scalp. The United States fans shouted in joy. One year after awesome disappointment, the USWNT was back.