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LYON, France — Sophia Smith rescued the U.S. women’s national team from a second straight loss at the Olympics here on Tuesday and sent the U.S. women’s national team to its first gold medal match since 2012.
In another tough knockout match, after another goalless 90 minutes, another superstar striker opened the scoring in extra time.
Three days earlier, it had been Trinity Rodman. Here, at the Groupama Stadium, in a semi-final against Germany, it had been Smith. In the 95th minute, she accelerated past a German defender and scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory.
Nine days earlier, the US women’s team had easily outclassed this same German team. It entered the knockout round looking transformed. However, its dismal quarterfinal against Japan reminded all participants that knockout football is something different and that this semi-final could also be a tactical and physical battle.
And for most of the 90 minutes, things were tight. Germany weren’t as conservative as Japan had been. But, after some bright moments in the first 15 minutes (Rodman created the best chance of the first half for Rose Lavelle), this group stage rematch turned into a lull.
There were small swings, modest surges and dangerous set pieces at both ends, but every save that Alyssa Naeher and Ann-Katrin Berger, the two goalkeepers, had to make was routine.
The U.S. was solid on defense. Naomi Girma, in another great game at another great tournament, was imperious. She blocked German attackers in one-on-ones, read and intercepted through balls and cut out crosses.
The Germans came into the second half at full speed and suddenly looked the better team, but they couldn’t find a way past Girma, the best player on the pitch by far.
The game, which came a year after the U.S. team’s heartbreaking loss to Sweden at the Women’s World Cup, was starting to look a lot like that infamous night in Melbourne, Australia. The Americans were eager, ready for the challenge, but struggled to create many (if any) high-quality chances.
Tired legs — the result of five games in 13 days and little rotation in the lineup — led to excessive passing in the final third.
The game dragged on, but the exhausted players were unable to take advantage of the increasingly open spaces.
Some fell, clutching cramped muscles.
And a second consecutive tie for both teams ended in extra time with a 0-0 scoreline, and looked destined for penalties.
But that’s where this story diverges from last summer’s. Asked on Saturday if the game against Sweden, in which Smith missed a crucial penalty, was on his mind as a similar conclusion approached, Smith said: “We’ve put the World Cup behind us.”
Then he proved it.
The decisive three-pass play was started by Girma and was excellent. Sam Coffey settled into a pocket in her midfield pivot position, received the ball on the turn and passed to Mallory Swanson, who had appeared in another pocket further up the field. Swanson’s pass was read by Germany defender Feli Rauch. But Smith, who had been alarmingly quiet in the second half, chased it down and guided the ball into the far corner of the net.
And the United States, flaunting its individual firepower, achieved another courageous victory.
Brazil will face off against current world champions Spain in Saturday’s final.