In the Olympic women’s football final on Saturday, the United States defeated Brazil 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mallory Swanson, securing the gold medal for a record-tying fifth time.
Brazil put up a strong fight on a steamy afternoon at the Parc des Princes, but the United States took the lead shortly before the hour mark when Swanson, wearing her 100th cap, broke through and finished past goalkeeper Lorena.
The United States has not won an Olympic gold medal in twelve years, with their victory in Paris joining their victories in 1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012.
Now, they have won three of those finals over Brazil, and the South Americans, like they did in Beijing four years later and Athens in 2004 again, had to settle for silver.
It was not quite the ending that their legendary captain Marta was hoping for, as she bowed out of her sixth and last Olympics aged 38 with a third silver medal.
Yet Brazil were never expected to get this far, while the USA’s victory confirms their renaissance under new English coach Emma Hayes.
She only arrived from Chelsea in late May but has worked wonders in a short space of time with a team that a year ago was sent packing from the World Cup in the last 16.
For USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe, who was present at the final on Saturday along with Tom Cruise, that campaign in Australia and New Zealand served as her international farewell.
Prior to the final, Marta was the subject of a lot of conversation. The legendary player from Brazil was allowed to make one final Olympic appearance after serving a two-game suspension for receiving a red card in her team’s previous group match.
But the 38-year-old multiple winner of the FIFA world player of the year award was left on the bench for the start of the game by coach Arthur Elias.
Perhaps he was mindful of the energy-sapping conditions, and the need for his team to match up physically to the USA.
A younger Marta had played in Brazil’s defeats in the 2004 and 2008 finals, both of which came in extra time.
This was also the second clash between the nations in a final this year, after the USA won 1-0 in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in San Diego in March.
The USA subsequently welcomed Hayes as coach and she oversaw wins against Japan and Germany in the knockout rounds to get to the Olympic final.
Brazil, meanwhile, scraped through their group as one of the best third-placed teams, before surprise wins against hosts France in the quarter-finals and World Cup holders Spain in the last four, both achieved without Marta.
Just over 15 minutes into the match, they had the ball in the net thanks to their direct approach, which caused difficulties for the USA defense in the first half.
Before Ludmila could finish, she turned Naomi Girma inside out in the box, but the goal was called back for offside.
Brazil had the better opportunity of the first half, but Lorena stopped Swanson’s shot at the other end after he raced down the left wing and burst into the box.
In stoppage time, Captain Adriana crossed from the right for Gabi Portilho to deflect the ball towards goal, but Alyssa Naeher made a fantastic save.
Though the Americans claimed to have the more dangerous attack, they took the lead on minute fifty-seven when Swanson was skillfully released by Korbin Albert on her home field of Paris Saint-Germain to score her fourth goal of the Olympics.
For the last 30 minutes, Brazil brought on Marta, but they never really appeared to be able to tie the score.
The USA won the game with a third straight 1-0 victory as the veteran missed a late free kick and Adriana’s header in stoppage time was saved by Naeher.
