USWNT vs. Germany: Sophia Smith's extra time goal sends Team USA to gold medal match at Paris Olympics

It'd be a mistake not to mention the other excellent performances today, with Swanson and Rodman going strong on offense and Girma and Naeher anchoring the defense. But it will be Sophia Smith who sends the USWNT into the final with a beautiful goal.

Next stop is Paris, where the USWNT will play the winner of Brazil-Spain for the gold medal in the Parc des Princes stadium. That second semifinal will be starting shortly, and should be a fascinating one — a clash of European and South American styles of play.

Either way, it will be the United States' first time playing in the gold medal match since 2012, after getting knocked out in the quarterfinals in 2016 and earning bronze in 2021.

And it'll be extra sweet for Smith — Saturday is her 24th birthday.

Let's go ahead and watch that Sophia Smith goal again. Absolutely clutch, absolute stunner.

With Sophia Smith's game-winning goal, each of the United States front three — Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman — have scored three goals in this tournament. Great to see from the three players who are the present and future of this U.S. national team.

And that's the game!

A big, dangerous chance for Germany, with Sophia Smith clipping the back of Jule Brand just outside the box. But Klara Buehl misses the direct free kick, and a follow-up header from Germany is miraculously saved by Naeher's foot.

Smith then pushes down the field with a wide open shot, but Berger comes out for a massive save of her own. The score holds.

Germany gets another corner kick, and gets a dangerous look in the air, but Alyssa Naeher comes down with the ball.

The USWNT has shifted much of the team towards the defensive end, with Lynn Williams staying up top and Smith and Swanson in a more midfield spot.

Hayes opts to sub out Swanson for Casey Krueger, who cements that back line for the U.S. and more officially shifts the balance.

Jule Brand gets the second yellow of the game for a tackle on Sophia Smith. The U.S. get the ball back just beyond the midline; Girma takes the kick and gets the ball to Swanson, but the forwards get caught in traffic and don't get off a shot.

Halftime of extra time, with 15 minutes remaining. Sophia Smith comes up big and gives the U.S. the lead heading into that final overtime frame.

Germany gets a corner kick, but Naeher punches it out for the big save. Naomi Girma stops the rebound to keep the ball out of the box.

Another huge chance for Sophia Smith, with a wide open shot, but Berger comes up huge with a save. Still 1-0, but the vibe has shifted; the U.S. looks far more comfortable now.

Trinity Rodman gets another shot, off some more great play from Mallory Swanson, but it goes over the top.

Now that the U.S. is ahead, they can slow things down a bit. Naeher is taking a bit more time now to take the goal kick, and some German fans in the crowd are unhappy with it. Emily Fox gets a time-wasting warning from center referee Bouchra Mar Karboubi after doing the same thing on a throw-in.

Swanson's corner kick goes a bit too far, and Sonnett's attempts to save it from going out of bounds are unsuccessful.

Trinity Rodman nearly makes it two, as Swanson gives her a pass with limited defenders in front of her. Rodman's shot is deflected and gives the U.S. another huge corner.

GOAL FROM SOPHIA SMITH! After more than 95 minutes of scoreless play, Swanson plays a beautiful through-ball to Smith, who catches the defense and Berger off-guard for the stunning strike.

Germany gets the next, with a shot from Klara Buehl nearly sneaking under Alyssa Naeher, but the American keeper is able to keep it out of the goal.

Mallory Swanson gets the first shot of extra time, capitalizing on a turnover, but it goes wide left.

The USWNT makes two changes heading into extra time, subbing out captain Lindsey Horan for Korbin Albert and Crystal Dunn for Jenna Nighswonger. Horan in particular has struggled the past few games with giveaways, prompting the change; Albert and Horan are very similar players, which makes her a logical replacement.

This is not an ideal scenario for either team. It's 90 degrees in Lyon right now, and both teams played extra time in their last games. It'll be a tough one, but the best solution is substitutions to give some fresh legs to a very tired squad.

In a scrappier, more balanced game that the last time they met, the U.S. and Germany are still scoreless after 90 minutes and will play extra time.

Germany gets a good free kick opportunity in the final seconds of stoppage time, and gets it far into the box, but Naeher makes the save after an initial bobble. A sigh of relief.

Five minutes of stoppage time have been added, with the USWNT needing a goal as soon as possible to avoid moving into extra time.

Back-to-back-to-back chances for the U.S. again, with Berger getting ahead of Williams's high cross to to Lindsey Horan and a cut inside from Swanson. Berger is once again Germany's hero here, but it's frustrating for the USWNT to have no goals in 12 shots (and eight on target).

Swanson intercepts the ball and pulls ahead, but her pass goes too far and out of bounds. Soon after, Crystal Dunn intercepts again and passes to Swanson, who scores, but it's ruled offsides. That winning goal is just within the United States' grasped; can they get it in time?

Back-to-back chances from the U.S. and Germany, with a late offside flag (and Naomi Girma) breaking up the German chance. Less than eight minutes (plus stoppage time) remaining, and things are feeling a bit more frantic. Both teams went into extra time in their last games, and would very much like to avoid that today.

SO CLOSE! The corner kick bounces around, kept alive by Sam Coffey and Naomi Girma before Lindsey Horan gets her head on it, but Berger is able to make the save. That's the best shot yet from the USWNT this half.

The corner will have to wait, as Hegering has been down for a while and is getting subbed out. Bibiane Schulze Solano will replace her.

Trinity Rodman moves the ball beautifully down the side, but Hegering kicks it out. Big corner kick coming up for the U.S.

Another close call, as Germany pushes the ball around the outside of the box, but Janina Minge's shot goes right to Naeher.

Germany is now up to four shots, with two on target, while the United States has only gotten one real shot so far this half. There are only 15 minutes remaining now to break the stalemate.

The USWNT has taken on an interesting, fluid shape, with Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman occasionally playing more midfield, or occasionally putting four up front with Swanson and Williams. It's worked well in terms of giving them looks, but so far not goals.

Germany's Nicole Anyomi gets in a great cross, which is broken up by Naomi Girma.

Anyomi then goes down with a cramp, prompting an impromptu hydration break, as it's currently 90 degrees in Lyon.

In a lovely bit of sportsmanship, Alyssa Naeher comes over to help stretch out Anyomi until the medics arrive. Anyomi goes off soon after, replaced by Laura Freigang.

Germany, who has already been playing a very physical game, is also picking up the pace for the U.S. The USWNT is suddenly finding it harder to control the ball, which can be uncomfortable for a team that is used to controlling the tempo of the games.

Mal Swanson gets a HUGE opportunity off a beautiful ball from Girma, with Swanson getting around Berger but kicking the ball into the side off an awkward angle. It's called offside anyway, but what a chance that could've been.

Lynn Williams comes in for Rose Lavelle, who is still playing limited minutes after dealing with injuries over the past year. Williams gets an early look to Horan, who runs into the German defense and is unable to get the shot off.

Trinity Rodman looks fouled just outside the box, but it is not called and is given as a goal kick instead. Rodman, who is on her back, is still being looked at, but she eventually gets back on her feet.

Germany's Giulia Gwinn, who scored Germany's only goal in the group stage match against the U.S., gets a shot off but it goes wide. Germany has come into this second half with a renewed fight on offense; hopefully, the U.S. will be able to score before those German shots become a real threat.

The referee mistakenly calls a goal kick, rather than a corner kick for Germany. The Germans are understandably upset, but U.S. takes the goal kick without complaint (obviously).

A shot from Jule Brand after some dangerous looks in the box from Germany — and some more good defending from Girma — but Alyssa Naeher scoops it up.

Sam Coffey is fouled by Sydney Lohmann, who is upset at the call. That makes 13 fouls for Germany, with more than 35 minutes left to play.

Another great Trinity Rodman cross into the middle is grabbed by Berger. So close, again.

Back on the other side of the field, Rose Lavelle gets in a great cross, but it's intercepted again. The USWNT has been able to press well, but still can't get that final inch past the strong German back line to go for a real shot.

Germany gets a big chance, getting past much of the U.S. back line, but Naomi Girma is able to intercept a cross and Sonnett is able to get it out.

Both teams have come out swinging to start the second half, with the ball on both ends of the field. Both teams will be vying for a goal in order to lock up a potential semifinal win — and avoid extra time and penalties.

Emily Sonnett comes in for Tierna Davidson to start the half. Davidson, who missed two games with a leg injury, might be on limited minutes, or else might have re-tweaked the injury during the first half. Either way, Sonnett will now slot in at center back alongside Girma.

The USWNT have been efficient with their shots, with five shots on target and six shots total. There have been a few set pieces — two corner kicks and a direct free kick — but so far nothing has come out of those.

Meanwhile, Germany, per the official Olympics numbers, has zero shots on goal in that first half. (What counts as a "shot" does have some level of subjectivity, but it is a tiny bit surprising that none of those chances were official shots.)

However, the Germans do have 11 fouls — including Hegering's yellow — compared to three for the U.S. It's a subtle marker of the United States' control over the game so far.

That marks the end of the first half, with no stoppage time added. The United States looks solid and in control of the game, but has yet to convert one of their chances into a goal.

German defender Marina Hegering, who has been pushy all game, is rewarded with the first yellow card of the match. She will have to be extra careful for the remainder of the game to avoid being sent off.