USWNT vs. Germany highlights: Sophia Smith’s goal sends USA to Olympic gold medal game

Editor's note: Follow USWNT vs. Brazil live updates and highlights from the women's soccer Olympic final at the 2024 Paris Games.

LYON, France — The United States women’s national team defeated Germany, 1-0, in the semifinals on Tuesday to advance to the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Sophia Smith scored a goal in overtime, assisted by Mallory Swanson, to keep the Americans’ chances of winning their first gold since 2012 alive. They will face Brazil, which beat Spain 4-2, on Saturday in Paris.

Here are highlights from the USA's win over Germany.

USWNT's win vs. Germany shows how far team has come in a year

Exactly one year ago, the U.S. women’s national team was at the lowest point in its illustrious history, knocked out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals in what was the team’s earliest exit ever at a major international tournament. Now, they are going to the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It means everything,” said Sophia Smith, whose sublime goal in the 95th minute made the difference in the 1-0 win over Germany.

“We had a tough year last year. In every way possible,” Smith said. “But I feel like this is a new year and we’re really just showing the world that we didn’t ever drop off. We just needed a learning year and a growth year and we’re back. And, hopefully, on top after this next game.”

Sophia Smith goal in overtime gives USWNT win

Sophia Smith scored in the 95th minute, and nearly had another nine minutes later, to give the U.S. women a 1-0 win over Germany. Though the Americans have four gold medals, most of any country, they haven't played in the final since 2012, when they beat Japan to win their third consecutive Olympic title.

Mallory Swanson charged up the middle of the field and slotted it to Smith in the box. She beat Felicitas Rauch, and Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger came out to try and disrupt her. But Berger came out too early and Smith put the ball right past her.

Emma Hayes calls Naomi Girma the best defender she's ever seen

Emma Hayes paid Naomi Girma the ultimate compliment. Girma, the reigning U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, is widely recognized as one of the best centerbacks in the world. But Hayes said there’s no need for the qualifier.

“She the best defender I've ever seen. Ever,” Hayes said after Girma’s stone-wall defense helped secure the USWNT’s 1-0 victory over Germany that sent the Americans into the gold medal match. “I've never seen a player as good as her in the back."

Olympics soccer schedule: When is gold medal match?

The women's soccer gold medal match is Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.

Last time USWNT advanced to Olympic gold medal match

The USWNT is the most-decorated team in the women's game, with four World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. But it's been a minute since they've reached the Olympic final.

In Tokyo, the Americans won the bronze medal after falling to eventual Olympic champions Canada in the semifinals. At the Rio Olympics in 2016, the USWNT was knocked out in the quarterfinals, at the time their earliest exit ever at a major international tournament. They "topped" that dubious result last summer, losing in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The last time the USWNT made the Olympic final was in 2012, when they beat Japan to win their third consecutive gold medal. No players are left from that team.

How many gold medals has USWNT won?

The U.S has won four Olympic gold medals: 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

USWNT Olympic wins 

The USWNT is 32-7-4 all-time at the Olympics, including four gold medals, won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Mallory Swanson subbed out for USWNT

Emma Hayes made her last sub in the 110th minute, bringing defender Casey Krueger on for Mallory Swanson. It's a smart move, given Germany will likely try and throw everything but the kitchen sink at the USWNT over the last five minutes. But should Germany score, it'll cost the Americans one of their best strikers for penalty kicks.

Yellow card for Germany in overtime

Julie Brand was shown a yellow card in the 108th minute for a hard foul on Sophia Smith. It was the second yellow card of the game for Germany, after one on Marina Hegering in the first half.

USWNT overtime subs

Emma Hayes made two substitutions to start overtime. Jenna Nighswonger came on for Crystal Dunn while Korbin Albert replaced Lindsey Horan. Germany, meanwhile, replaced Sydney Lohmann with Elisa Senss.

USWNT vs Germany goes to overtime

The Olympic semifinal between the USWNT and Germany remains scoreless after 90 minutes, which means it's onto overtime. It's not ideal for the USWNT, which needed overtime to get by Japan in the quarterfinals, too. Trinity Rodman gave the USWNT the win in that one, scoring in stoppage time in the second half of OT.

The Americans had several chances to win this one, including Mal Swanson's goal in the 86th minute. But it was, rightly, called offside. The Americans would seem to have an advantage in another 30 minutes. Several German players appeared to have issues with cramping late in the second half.

Olympics soccer overtime rules

Knockout stage soccer games at the Paris Olympics go to 30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves) if a match finishes tied. If things remain tied after the additional 30 minutes, the winner is determined by penalty kicks.

In recent years, the USWNT was eliminated in penalties in the 2023 World Cup and the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympics, but won a shootout in the quarterfinal of the Tokyo Games. — Jesse Yomtov

Stoppage time in second half

There were five minutes of extra time in the second half.

Germany subs out Marina Hegering

Germany was forced to make another sub, this one in the 78th minute, after Marina Hegering appeared to cramp up. This a few minutes after Nicole Anyomi came off after grabbing her hamstring. Hegering was replaced by Bibiane Schulze Solano.

Germany makes first sub vs USWNT

Nicole Anyomi, who's been Germany's most dangerous player, was subbed off in the 69th minute. It looked as if she injured her hamstring — though it also could have been cramping, given the heat in Lyon today. She was replaced by Laura Freigang.

Mallory Swanson shot just misses

Naomi Girma fed Mallory Swanson in the 62nd minute, but Swanson just missed, hitting it into the front post side netting. It was the Americans' closest chance at a goal so far.

Lynn Williams comes on for Rose Lavelle

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Emma Hayes has made another substitution. Lynn Williams came on for Rose Lavelle. It'll be interesting to see how this affects the USWNT offense. Lavelle had been very active and facilitated a lot of the USWNT's most dangerous runs.

Trinity Rodman goes down briefly after a hard tackle

U.S. forward Trinity Rodman went down after a hard tackle in the 59th minute, but got to her feet after lying on the pitch for a few moments.

USWNT vs Germany second half underway

After a scoreless first half, the sides are back on the pitch for the second.

Tierna Davidson subbed out at half

Tierna Davidson was subbed at the half, replaced by Emily Sonnett. The move isn't a surprise, given Davidson missed the last two games with a leg injury.

USWNT vs Germany score: 0-0 at halftime

The USWNT better hope it doesn't regret its missed chances in the early minutes of the first half.

The first half ended in a scoreless tie, despite the Americans taking three shots from close range in the first seven minutes. German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger either caught or deflected each of the shots out of danger. By not scoring, the USWNT gave the Germans time to get organized and settled. They had a couple of chances of their own, including one by Julie Brand in the 24th minute that Alyssa Naeher batted away. Crystal Dunn pounced on the ball and cleared it, not giving Germany an opportunity for a rebound goal.

The Americans have a 5-0 advantage on shots on goal, and are dominating possession. But, so far, they don't have anything to show for it.

Yellow card for Germany's Marina Hegering

Marina Hegering was given a yellow in the 44th minute after taking out Mallory Swanson. The Germans have been very physical, pushing, shoving and yanking at jerseys, tallying 11 fouls in the first half. The refs have, for the most part, let them play, but this foul was a little too egregrious. Hegering threw Swanson to the turf, earning the yellow. She wasn't carrying one, so she won't miss the next game.

USWNT with three shots on goal early

The Americans had three shots on goal in the first seven minutes. Mallory Swanson fed a free kick into the box for a backpost header by Tierna Davidson; Trinity Rodman and Swanson left one for Rose Lavelle on a breakaway; and Sofia Smith had a look inside the box. All three shots were right at goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.

USWNT lineup today

• Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher

• Defenders: Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox

• Midfielders: Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Sam Coffey

• Forwards: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith

The USWNT is back to full strength. Tierna Davidson, who missed the last two matches with a leg contusion, is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's Olympic semifinal against Germany. So, too, midfielder Sam Coffey, who missed the quarterfinal win over Japan because of yellow-card accumulation. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged.

What Emma Hayes said before the match

“Well, our game plan so far is to take one game at a time. Having the opportunity to compete and play in a final is something we work very hard at. So we just think to the things that have served us well to this point,” head coach Emma Hayes said on the Eurosport broadcast before the match. “Everybody’s very excited.”

Germany lineup without Alexandra Popp, Lea Schueller

Germany is going to be very short-handed against the USWNT.

Already missing star defender Lena Oberdorf, who tore her ACL earlier this summer, Germany will be without veterans Alexandra Popp and Lea Schueller for Tuesday night's Olympic semifinal. Popp is sick, the German federation said, while Schueller has inflammation in a tendon in her left knee.

It's bad news for Germany, which has already lost to the USWNT once in the Olympic tournament. Sophia Smith scored twice and Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams each had a goal in the 4-1 win in the second match of the group stage. The Americans went on to win Group B while Germany advanced as the second-place team.

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USWNT Olympic roster 

• Forward: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Smith, Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn.

• Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher.

• Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett.

• Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams.

U.S. Soccer Olympics schedule 2024

If the Americans beat Germany, they will play in the gold medal match on Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.

• July 25: USWNT 3, Zambia 0

• July 28: USWNT 4, Germany 1

• July 31: USWNT 2, Australia 0

• Aug. 3: USWNT 1, Japan 0

Tierna Davidson returns to USA matchday roster

Defender Tierna Davidson missed the last two games with a leg contusion, but is active again for the USWNT match against Germany. It moves Emily Sams to the alternate list.

Trinity Rodman goals so far at Paris Olympics

Trinity Rodman's late goal against Japan in the quarterfinal made her the youngest player since 2004 to score for the U.S. women in the Olympic knockout rounds. She has three goals and an assist so far these Games.

USWNT's last time out at Lyon Stadium

The U.S. women have fond memories of their last game at Lyon Stadium. As they should, given it's where they won the 2019 World Cup.

The USWNT actually played two games at this stadium during that tournament, outlasting England in the semifinals before beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final on goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle. Lavelle is one of seven players from that 2019 team on the squad for the Paris Olympics. The other six are: captain Lindsey Horan, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Alyssa Naeher, Emily Sonnett and Mallory Swanson.

USA vs. Germany at Olympics

The USWNT didn't have to spend much time scouting Germany.

The two teams met last played nine days ago, in the second game of the group stage. It was a 4-1 win for the Americans, with Sophia Smith scoring twice and Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams each getting a goal. That game was the sixth time the USWNT has played Germany in either the World Cup or Olympics, including the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup. The Americans won that and went on to win the first of consecutive World Cups.

And a potentially positive sign for the USWNT: In the previous five meetings between the U.S. and Germany in the knockout rounds of the World Cup or Olympics, the team that's won has gone onto win the entire tournament.

Today is the 37th overall international meeting between the teams.

How Naomi Girma became 'one of the best defenders in the world'

Naomi Girma is the best of America. In the literal sense, she is U.S. Soccer’s reigning Female Player of the Year and, at just 24, the anchor of the back line for the U.S. women’s national team. She’ll make her Olympic debut with the USWNT on Thursday, a year after playing every minute of every game at the World Cup.

But it’s the figurative sense that’s even more important. Girma is a first-generation American, the daughter of two Ethiopian immigrants. When she dons the jersey with the U.S. crest on the chest, it’s a reminder of the promise this country holds and proof of how much better we are when we welcome, and celebrate, the melting pot of races and cultures that is uniquely American.

“Diversity and embracing other cultures is what makes us so special, and I think that's what has put us ahead for so many years,” Girma said. “I think that's something that we should continue to do.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USWNT vs Germany highlights: US wins in OT on Sophia Smith's goal