The Brazilians easily outshot the Americans in Thursday morning’s women’s soccer gold medal match.
But the U.S. needed just one — Carli Lloyd’s in the sixth minute of extra time — to win their third gold and avenge last fall’s World Cup semifinal loss with a 1-0 victory.
“We just had to go after them,” U.S. forward Angela Hucles said. “We believed in our fitness. We knew we were fitter. We just felt the unity, the strength, that’s what held us together.”
The title was the first in a major tournament for Coach Pia Sundhage and gave the Americans their third gold medal since women’s soccer was added in 1996. The United States’ only loss was in the 2000 final to Norway.
‘When I was 6 years old, I thought I was the only girl in the whole world who played soccer. I wasn’t allowed to play because I was a girl,” Sundhage said. “Back then, I could never imagine to be a professional player or a professional coach. Now I’m sitting with a great player, Christie Rampone, and looking at her gold medal. I am so proud.”
For the Brazilians, it was bitter disappointment. This is the third straight time they’ve been the runner-up at a top event. They outplayed the Americans in the 2004 final, too, and lost in extra time. They also fell to Germany in the World Cup final last year. After the game, goalkeeper Barbara lay on her back, sobbing, while Cristiane sat on the ground crying.
“I have no idea why we can’t win a final,” said Marta, who sobbed when she got her silver medal, her lip quivering. “It’s something I’m gonna keep asking myself for a long time. You keep asking what you did wrong.”
After several good chances for both teams to end regulation, Amy Rodriguez held off two defenders at the start of extra time and put the ball up for Lloyd who gave it a light touch with her right foot and then left-footed it from a yard outside the area. Brazilian goalie Barbara dived, but the ball scooted past her and settled in the far bottom corner of the net.
“On the world stage,” U.S. goalie Hope Solo said, “is when teams really come to play.”
— The Associated Press contributed to this report.
[email protected]
