Sophia Smith, a suspended Sam Coffey and the U.S. women’s soccer team are off to the semifinals at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics thanks to a tight 1-0 win over Japan in the quarterfinals.
The Americans controlled the ball for a large majority of the match, but Japan’s defense stayed stout for the entirety of regulation, forcing overtime which is two, 15-minute halves for the Olympics.
Two minutes into the second half of overtime, Trinity Rodman found the back of the net off an assist from former Portland Thorn Crystal Dunn to put the U.S. in front 1-0.
Japan went on the offensive from there, but only a couple chances were snuffed out by the USWNT who held on to win the match.
The match was the first in these Olympics where Smith didn’t record a point, but she still fired off four shots, one on goal. Coffey was suspended from the match due to two yellow cards in the group stage matches.
Up next for the USWNT will be a date with Germany in the semifinals, that match is slated for 9 a.m. Aug. 6.
On the other side of the bracket, Jessie Fleming, Janine Beckie and the Canadian women’s team has been ousted in the quarterfinals and won’t defend their gold medal from the 2020 Games.
Germany was responsible for taking out the defending champs, winning 4-2 in penalty kicks after the game was a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime.
Fleming started the match but was subbed out at halftime while Beckie came off the bench and played 63 minutes.
In the PKs, Canada’s Ashley Lawrence had her shot blocked by the German goalkeeper in the second round, giving Germany a 2-1 lead.
Germany missed its next PK to leave the door open, but Adriana Leon had her shot stopped by the German keeper to keep it at 2-1.
The two sides traded goals next, the make from Canada coming off the foot of Beckie to stay alive and make it 3-2 Germany.
However, the Germans wouldn’t be denied as Ann-Katrin Berger hit the shot and sent Germany to the semis against the USWNT instead of Canada.
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