PARIS, France — Mallory Smith scored in the second half to give the United States a win over Brazil in the gold medal match at the Paris Olympics and return Team USA to the top of women’s soccer.
The U.S. won 1-0 in a match filled with defensive brilliance.
The lone goal in the match was scored when Smith took a pass as she snuck past Brazil’s defense and faced goalkeeper Lorena de Silva Leite one-on-one. Smith snuck a shot in the bottom left of the net to give Team USA a crucial advantage in the tight contest.
Smtih’s goal was one of just three shots on goal for the U.S. during the match. Brazil managed just four shots on goal, all of which were blocked.
After dominating the women’s soccer tournament for four of the first five years it was offered at the Summer Olympics, the U.S. missed the podium in 2016 and only earned bronze in 2020. Team USA’s resilient run to gold in Paris solidified the nation’s place on top of the world in women’s soccer. The U.S. blew past the group and knockout stages to finish the tournament undefeated.
Brazil, meanwhile, earned its third Olympic silver in women’s soccer. It’s the first women’s soccer medal for the nation since 2008. Brazil’s star player, Marta, is again left as a runner-up in an international contest. She is often regarded as the best women’s player ever and is outspoken about the nation’s lack of efforts in women’s soccer while the Brazilian men’s soccer team remains one of the world’s best. Marta is retiring after the Paris Olympics.