Sophia Smith was the star of the show as she scored the winning goal in the 95th minute, leading the U.S. women’s national team to a 1-0 victory over Germany in the semifinals of the Paris Olympics. This win secured their spot in the gold medal match, where they will face either Brazil or Spain on Saturday in Paris. The U.S. team has the opportunity to win their fifth gold medal but their first since the 2012 London Olympics.
Smith’s goal came from a through ball by Mallory Swanson, which she expertly slotted past the German goalkeeper, Ann-Katrin Berger. This victory was crucial for the U.S. team, who have been dominant throughout the tournament, outscoring their opponents 11-2 so far. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher also played a key role in the win, making a crucial save in the 119th minute to deny Germany a late equalizer.
This match was only the second scoreless semifinal in the history of the women’s tournament, with the U.S. team needing extra time to secure the win. In the quarterfinals, it was Trinity Rodman who scored the decisive goal in extra time to defeat Japan 1-0. This marks the second time in the team’s history that they have played consecutive extra-time matches, with the previous occurrence being in the 2004 Olympics.
The U.S. team has a storied history in women’s soccer, having won a medal in every tournament since the sport was introduced at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. In addition to their four gold medals, they have also earned a silver and a bronze. However, their failure to reach the semifinals in the 2023 Women’s World Cup was a disappointment, making this upcoming gold medal match a chance for redemption.
With their strong performance throughout the tournament and their victory over Germany, the U.S. team is poised to make history once again in the gold medal match in Paris. Fans will be eagerly awaiting Saturday’s final to see if the team can secure another gold medal and cement their legacy as one of the greatest women’s soccer teams of all time.