It all comes down to this. After a grueling stretch of five games in 13 days, the United States women’s national team faces Brazil for the gold medal. If they win, it would be their first since the 2012 London Games, which capped off a streak of three straight golds. Since then, the USWNT won bronze in Tokyo and did not medal in 2016. The USWNT is coming off two straight matches that went into extra time.
The United States is led by the “trident,” AKA Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, who fittingly each have three goals in this tournament. The team has also been rejuvenated by new coach Emma Hayes, whose sometimes unconventional tactics seem to be resonating with the group.
Saturday’s match will also see the return of Brazilian soccer icon Marta, who was suspended for the last two games after receiving a straight red during the group stage. This is the final international tournament for Marta, who is retiring this year, and her last chance to win her first major international title with Brazil. Marta has two Olympic silver medals from the 2004 and 2008 games, and will be trying to earn her first gold…but the U.S. isn’t just going to let her take it.
How to watch Olympic gold medal game: United States vs. Brazil
Date: Saturday, August 10
Time: 11 a.m. ET | 8 a.m. PT
Location: Stade de France | Saint-Denis, France
Channel: NBC, Telemundo
Streaming: NBCOlympics.com, Peacock, Fubo
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the United States takes on Brazil in the gold medal match on Saturday.
Live32 updates
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This is not the kind of game the U.S. would like to be having, with the defense looking unsettled and the team unable to hold the kind of control over the ball that they’re used to. It’s scoreless at least — thanks to Alyssa Naeher — but Brazil has been far more of a threat in this first half.
The best option for Emma Hayes and the USWNT is to make some substitutions at halftime or early in the half. A few fresh legs, especially to shore up the defensive end, will be key.
In terms of offense, the USWNT’s best chance is to wait for Brazil to make a mistake and nail a shot. With this front three, it’s absolutely possible to take a lead with that strategy, but they need to keep Brazil out of the net first.
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United States 0, Brazil 0 at halftime
It’s been a fast, physical game so far, with Brazil taking advantage of a tired U.S. squad to get in several good looks.
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Another shot from Brazil catches the defense off-guard but goes out. This is the most unsettled the U.S. defense has looked all tournament, and they have been lucky with some of these misses.
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Gaby Portilho gets in a shot that catches the back line off-guard and is barely saved by Naeher. Fox is able to keep Ludmila from getting the rebound and it goes out for a corner. Incredible save by Naeher, but one that ideally she wouldn’t have to make.
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Swanson takes a free kick from far outside the box, but Brazil gets a head on it. Korbin Albert has been officially warned after a sloppy foul on Ludmila.
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Another Brazilian corner kick. Lindsey Horan gets her head on it to get it out to Smith, but Brazil kicks it off Smith to get the throw-in. The U.S. has been struggling on transitions, unable to hold on to the ball after fending off Brazilian set pieces and plays. It’s something to work on as the game continues.
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Another dangerous chance for Brazil, as Emily Fox keeps Ludmila from getting her head on Gaby Portilho’s cross. Brazil gets a corner kick but the U.S. is able to get it out of the box.
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Emma Hayes has shifted the lineup slightly in response to this first 30 minutes from Brazil, having Trinity Rodman push back and play more in the midfield when Brazil has the ball. Rodman is an asset on defense as well as offense, and will have the speed to hold off Ludmila and Yasmin on Brazil’s left side.
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Another potential chance, with Smith sending in a shot from the left side, but it doesn’t have enough juice and rolls right to Lorena.
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Mallory Swanson takes advantage of a bad pass to Lorena, the keeper, to go after the ball, but collides with Lorena in the process. Lorena is back up and looks like she will be fine to keep playing, but Brazil is given a foul as a result.
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As expected, it’s been a very physical game so far. In just 30 minutes, the Brazilians have six fouls, and the U.S. has four. Brazil is always physical and uses it well to their advantage; in the past, the USWNT has responded to physical teams by pushing right back, but they will have to make sure to keep a cool head to any major mistakes.
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After 30 minutes, the two teams take their first hydration breaks. It’s 85 degrees in Paris right now, with more than half of the field still sitting in the sun. Hopefully, this will give the U.S. a chance to reset.
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Brazil gets a number of looks in the U.S. box, but Naeher is able to save one and get it back towards the other end of the field.
A foul on Sophia Smith gives the USWNT another free kick from within the center circle; it goes a little too far, but Swanson is able to save it and get it to Rodman. However, Rodman’s kick goes straight to Lorena.
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Mallory Swanson with a beautiful run down the side, but Lorena has an incredible save to keep the USWNT off the scoreboard.
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Mallory Swanson takes another penalty kick, but it goes right to Brazil’s goalkeeper Lorena. Swansonhas been taking corners for the U.S. this game since Rose Lavelle, who is usually the designated corner kick-taker, is not starting.
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Brazilian captain Adriana is unhappy that contact with Crystal Dunn inside the box isn’t called. The VAR and center referee confer, but decide that it is not a penalty kick. Another bullet dodged for the United States.
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This has been a very fast paced game so far, which is not ideal for a starting USWNT squad that has played five matches in less than two weeks. The USWNT usually thrives when they can control the ball, but Brazil is not giving them that opportunity.
Brazil’s best bet will be to keep up the speed and the pressure. It’s going to be a battle of who can score first — whoever gets that first point will likely be able to ride that momentum through to the end.
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The U.S. gets lucky again, as a Brazilian cross goes past Naomi Girma but also misses its intended target in front of the goal.
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A sigh of relief for the U.S., as Ludmila scores a banger for Brazil, but she is called offsides. Brazil is having much more luck getting past the U.S. back line, and it’s a bit too close for comfort.
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Another corner after Trinity Rodman — following a bit of her classic dribbling trickery — threads a throughball to Mallory Swanson, whose cross is sent out. But Swanson’s corner kick attempt hits the top of the goal and is out of bounds.
