Sophia Smith’s extra-time goal sends USWNT to Olympic gold medal match

Like the hard-fought quarter-final win over Japan, this thrilling victory was a reality check after the devastating beatings handed out by the US in the early stages of the Emma Hayes era.

But a win is good anyway—especially if it means the USWNT is in the Olympic final. A year after one of their low points, a penalty shootout loss to Sweden in the first knockout stage of the 2023 World Cup, a hard-fought and sometimes hard-to-watch 1-0 overtime victory over Germany sent the U.S. into Saturday’s final at the Parc des Princes, securing at least a silver medal.

The team has yet to recapture the imperious brilliance that was the hallmark of American teams of yore; perhaps it never will, given the dramatic improvement of other countries. But by reaching the Olympic final, the U.S. is back on a familiar stage after the uncertainty and insecurity of the past few years under previous head coach Vlatko Andonovski, when a group of exceptional veterans slowly deteriorated.

After winning four Olympic gold and silver medals from 1996 to 2012, the U.S. lost in the quarterfinals in Rio and had to settle for bronze in Japan three years ago. Now they have a chance to play for another championship, but given the pattern of play in the semifinals, it was tempting to wonder whether the 4-1 group-stage win over Germany nine days earlier was the worst that could have happened to the U.S.

That score didn’t tell the whole story, as the sides were more or less evenly matched in attempts on goal. But the embarrassment apparently prompted Germany to rethink and redouble their efforts to establish a tactical bulwark against the usually effervescent attacking trio of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman, who had provided eight of the U.S.’s 10 goals in this match but were only a sporadic threat Tuesday.

Rodman had scored the winning goal in overtime as the U.S. defeated Japan 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and finally broke down a stubborn low defensive block with a moment of individual inspiration. Up until that point, goals had not been hard to come by, with the U.S. beating Zambia 3-0 and Australia 2-1 in the group stage and scoring four against Germany.

Against Japan, a beautiful goal in extra time was enough to defeat determined and well-drilled opponents and continue Hayes’ run of great results. The 47-year-old Londoner now has eight wins and a draw in her first nine games with the US, the first of which, a 4-0 victory over South Korea, came just two months ago. She is wasting no time as she looks to return the US to world dominance and build a young, unstoppable lineup.

The celebrations at the final whistle were understandably exuberant, a display of emotion after a tense night. There was one of those rare first periods when so little happens that the referee overlooks the delays caused by fouls and blows the half-time whistle without adding injury time; a merciful act in this case.

The atmosphere was muted, with the 60,000-capacity Olympique Lyonnais home stadium far from full, and in any case there was little to cheer the modest crowd, with the “USA!” chants taking on a tunnel-like echo around the vast arena. The match descended into a somber midfield battle more suited to the Germans, who recovered from a shaky start to successfully stifle American attacks and occasionally mount an offensive of their own.

An early pass from Rose Lavelle after three minutes was easily dealt with by resilient keeper Ann-Katrin Berger (of Gotham FC and formerly of Hayes’ Chelsea). But the chance, a menacing run from Rodman and the amount of space the US had in the final third of the game seemed to bode ill for Germany.

Still, the underdogs had the best chance of the first half, when U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was forced to clear a low shot from Jule Brand in the 24th minute. The U.S. had led 3-1 at halftime when the teams met in the group stage nine days earlier; this time, they were tied at the break.

As the second half began, Naomi Girma was in dominant form alongside Emily Sonnett, who replaced Tierna Davidson at half-time. The increasing relevance of the American centre-backs underlined Germany’s growing confidence and threat, while the US proved too patient and too slow. American possession was often spent on sideways passing, which offered no territorial progression and gave Germany enough time to settle into their defensive shape.

Girma took matters into her own hands shortly after the hour mark and ran into midfield. Swanson found her brilliantly. Swanson rounded the keeper but shot wide instead of simply finishing the ball to a teammate, despite suspicions of offside.

The US turned the screw in the final minutes of the second half, but Germany held on to send the game into extra time. Having beaten reigning champions Canada on penalties in the quarterfinals, they would hardly have been averse to a shootout.

The dynamic Smith, however, had other ideas. Five minutes into extra time, she was neatly played in by Swanson, beat Feli Rauch and the onrushing Berger to the pass and slotted the ball into the net.

The broadcaster’s microphones picked up Hayes directing the team from the touchline, urging the players to “Hang in there”. And they did, despite late German pressure, with Naeher again forced into acrobatic action with a superb late save, while Smith could have scored a couple more goals as Germany left gaps at the back.

Hayes, as everyone knows, is a winner. The only question now is what color the medal will be.