Trinity Rodman’s second of magic in additional time was sufficient for the USA to see off Japan and progress to the Olympic semi-finals.
The 2 sides laboured within the first half, with Emma Hayes’ group having fun with loads of possession however struggling to create any significant probabilities on the Parc des Princes.
The USA improved after the break and their first first rate alternative arrived within the 63rd minute when Mallory Swanson exchanged a one-two earlier than curling an effort simply vast.
Rodman’s affect grew as the sport wore on, however it was Sophia Smith who had one of the best likelihood previous to the USA’s winner, just for the 23-year-old to take too many touches when by way of on objective, permitting Ayaka Yamashita to shut down the angle.
However as penalties approached, Rodman stepped up within the second minute of stoppage time on the finish of the primary half of the extra half-hour, gathering Crystal Dunn’s move earlier than chopping inside and curling in an unstoppable shot.
Japan substitute Riko Ueki virtually equalised from shut vary, however the USA have been capable of clear their strains and maintain agency to tee up a semi-final towards both Canada or Germany.
FINAL!!!!
WE’RE GOING TO THE SEMI!!!!!#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/6Mey8h4lxR
— U.S. Girls’s Nationwide Soccer Crew (@USWNT) August 3, 2024
Knowledge debrief: USA fail to transform possession into alternatives
Regardless of neither facet creating a lot in the way in which of probabilities with the USA mustering an anticipated targets (xG) of 0.68 to Japan’s 0.53, the People dominated the ball for big swathes of the match.
They’d 71.3% possession, had greater than double the passes and last third entries of Japan with 1,026 to 403 and 89 to 44 respectively.
Nevertheless it finally took a second of brilliance from Rodman to settle the competition. At 22 years and 75 days previous, she is the youngest participant to attain an extra-time objective for the USWNT since Heather O’Reilly on the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
