The United States hopped on the board early with onward Megan Rapinoe flexing an unusual edge kick into the objective in the eighth min. Several minutes later on, Australia’s Sam Kerr scored the equalizer– but Rapinoe quickly mounted a response, floating a side volley simply under the bar to place her team up by one.
After an uncharacteristically low-scoring event, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) came back with a vengeance in their final suit of the Tokyo Olympics, trading shots with their Australian challengers throughout the 90 mins, as well as eventually outscoring them 4-3 to secure the bronze medal. It’s the initial Olympic bronze in the group’s background as well as their sixth medal generally.
By the end of the very first fifty percent, veteran Carli Lloyd had actually also located the goal, cruising the ball right into the corner off an aid from midfielder Lindsey Horan. It was her ninth career Olympic objective, tying the all-time United States document established by Abby Wambach in 2012.
Lloyd would take place to ruin that record in the 51st min, placing the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Teagan Micah to provide the USWNT a three-point lead.
Australia’s Caitlin Foord struck back minutes later on, heading the round past goalie Adrianna Franch, that got her first Olympic begin with this match after Alyssa Naeher was wounded in the semifinals. Foord’s colleague, Emily Gielnik, racked up Australia’s third goal in the 90th min, however as the added time added by the officials ticked by, the USWNT’s lead confirmed to be overwhelming.
This bronze medal comes as the four-time World Cup champions proceed their defend equal pay. Throughout the USWNT’s quarterfinal suit, the players of the United States males’s group– which did not make the Olympic competition– filed an amicus quick saying that the American women are entitled to equal, otherwise far better, pay than the guys.
“A female’s rate of pay is not equal to a male’s if the female need to constantly attain better results simply to reach the exact same location,” the brief read.