The Guardian

Mallory Swanson fires USWNT past Brazil to win Olympic soccer gold – as it happened

By Beau Dure,

15 hours ago

6.16pm BST

Bryan Armen Graham was on the scene and has filed this report:

On that note, I’m going to substitute for myself and take a break before I come back to see another team on a mission to stay atop a sport it long dominated – men’s basketball. This will be a barnburner. See you in an hour and change.

6.12pm BST

Mail

Kári Tulinius: “It would’ve been lovely to see Marta bow out with an Olympic gold after bringing so much joy to spectators around the world. She was constantly compared to Pelé, though their styles never seemed that similar to me, but both of them, in their prime, seemed like players from the future digitally inserted into old footage.”

Indeed – Marta is really in that mold, a brilliant playmaker and scorer.

Peter Oh: “Instead of a sweet Marta swan song winner, the women’s football world got a Swanson decider.”

Now I want a Swanson TV dinner.

Ronald Vopel: “Hi, nice reporting but the sport is called football not soccer.”

Because I’m neither English nor 150 years old, I am not responsible for the sport being named association football and shortened to soccer.

Updated at 6.20pm BST

6.09pm BST

It took one moment of brilliance, with Mallory Swanson inches away from being offside, and two massive saves by Alyssa Naeher to win a game in which the USA were in deep trouble.

With a different bounce of the ball, we’d be questioning Emma Hayes’ lack of substitutions here. We still have to wonder why she brought Jaedyn Shaw if she was never going to put her on the field. We have to wonder why Rose Lavelle didn’t play at all in that final.

But this team already looks more tactically savvy than they have in the past. And the bottom line is that she’s now 1-for-1 in major international tournaments with the USA.

6.05pm BST

USA win the women's soccer gold medal

Relief at last.

Updated at 6.14pm BST

6.04pm BST

90 min +12: Off Rodman’s foot for a Brazilian throw-in deep in their own half. USA regain possession.

Where’s the whistle?

6.03pm BST

90 min +11: Rodman duels for possession and earns a free kick at midfield.

Surely this will be played long and the game will be done. Sonnett stands to take it.

6.03pm BST

90 min +10: Marta tries to get past the defense but accidentally plays the ball into her own hand. She hasn’t been sharp, to be honest.

We’ve played 10 minutes. Now we’re getting the stoppage-time stoppage time.

6.02pm BST

90 min +10: Krueger and Horan try to kill some time deep in the Brazilian half, but they only manage about five seconds.

6.01pm BST

90 min +10: We see the USA bench, but they’re all sitting.

6.01pm BST

90 min +9: Horan plays a part in helping the US break up an attack. But they’re still not out of their own half.

Krueger smartly wins a throw-in on the right.

6.00pm BST

90 min +8: A misplaced clearance goes to Adriana, but Naeher comes out to snatch the ball out of the air on the cross attempt.

5.59pm BST

90 min +7: Horan sits up, but SURELY Hayes will bring on Lavelle in her place. SURELY.

….

Nope.

5.58pm BST

90 min +6: Oh dear. Brutal foul by Rafaelle on Horan, and the referee immediately signals for the trainers.

5.57pm BST

90 min +4: HUGE SAVE BY NAEHER AGAIN. Sonnett intervenes to break up a passing combination, but the ball is played back to Adriana, who gets a head to it and forces Naeher to move quickly to save.

Dunn lost Adriana on that play but will remain on the field – Krueger is finally on, but in place of Swanson.

That could mean five at the back, or it could mean Dunn is free to press further up the field.

Updated at 6.31pm BST

5.55pm BST

90 min +3: Swanson is caught offside.

5.54pm BST

90 min +3: Through ball from Marta is too long. Naeher collects.

5.54pm BST

90 min +2: Marta uses her guile to induce Horan into a foul at midfield.

USA pressing, but Brazil break. Then Coffey commits a needless foul, and Brazil take the free kick quickly. The USA barely scramble it clear.

5.52pm BST

90 min +1: We’ll have 10 minutes of stoppage time.

The USA have only used two subs.

5.52pm BST

90 min: Brazil resume possession. There are some tired US attackers trying to press.

Adriana shoots from an impossible angle, and Naeher gratefully gathers it.

5.51pm BST

89 min: Marta gets it over the wall but also over the crossbar. US fans exhale.

Score is still 1-0 USA.

5.50pm BST

88 min: For those asking, it’s still 1-0 USA.

But not for long? Sonnett concedes a free kick 22 yards out.

5.49pm BST

87 min: Dangerous attacking combination for Brazil, broken up by Sonnett.

The USA need to get this ball in the other half of the field.

5.49pm BST

86 min: Fox does well defending against Marta, and the ball is out for a goal kick. The outside backs were getting overwhelmed in the first half, but it’s been better since the break.

Still … Casey Krueger, anyone?

5.48pm BST

85 min: Score is still 1-0 USA.

Emma Hayes still has Rose Lavelle and Casey Krueger on her bench.

But Dunn does well to shield the ball from Portilho, who pushes her over in her effort to get to it.

5.46pm BST

83 min: Horan wins the ball and plays to Swanson, who lays it back for Albert, whose 22-yard shot is … a bit closer than Lorena thought it was going to be.

Substitution: We’ve seen the last of Sophia Smith in this tournament. It’s Lynn Williams coming on. Not Lavelle.

Rafaelle replaces Lauren.

5.45pm BST

82 min: Horan is setting up to take this from 25. The USA form a giant wall next to Brazil’s wall. But Horan puts it straight into the latter, then sends the rebound skittering well wide of goal.

They really hired someone to specifically work on set pieces?

5.43pm BST

81 min: Fox coolly intervenes. Going the other way, Smith keeps the ball in play, and Tarciane clatters into her. The Brazilian defender argues against the yellow card for some reason.

Free kick for the USA. Maybe the 4,797th time is the charm …

5.42pm BST

80 min: Conceding corners with Marta on the field seems like a bad idea.

First one is knocked out for another corner. Second one is partially cleared, put back in the mixer, partially cleared again, and Yasmim mishits a shot from 20 yards.

5.41pm BST

79 min: Sonnett’s first touch is a good one, but Dunn loses possession, and it might be time to give Casey Krueger that spot.

5.40pm BST

78 min: The break goes longer than anticipated again.

Stoppage time is going to be up around eight minutes, surely.

5.38pm BST

76 min: SUB for the USA …

…

Just kidding. It’s a hydration break.

I am utterly flabbergasted that we haven’t seen Rose Lavelle at this stage.

5.37pm BST

75 min: Poor clearance from Lorena, and the USA have possession. Horan, the captain, motions to her teammate to take their time with the throw-in. Then Horan ends up in the corner. A little early to start killing off the game.

5.36pm BST

74 min: Ball headed out, and Brazil are furious that it’s a goal kick. Replay shows it’s the correct call.

FINALLY, a sub … Emily Sonnett replaces Tierna Davidson, who did relatively well in the second half but couldn’t have been expected to go 90 today.

5.35pm BST

73 min: USA concede another corner. Emily Sonnett is tying her shoe. US fans probably screaming at her to hurry up.

5.34pm BST

72 min: Swanson, wide to Smith on the left, offside.

Nick Gibson: “Brazil played a game in a million against Spain to win; I do believe Spain would have comfortably won against this USA team.”

5.33pm BST

71 min: Another not-great corner kick, but Brazil clear for a throw-in.

I cannot believe Hayes hasn’t made a sub.

5.32pm BST

70 min: Fox makes a rare foray forward. It ends up with Smith, who has swung out to the right, and her cross is blocked out for a corner.

5.32pm BST

69 min: Lauren is down injured, and there was no contact, which is often a bad sign.

The stoppage again gives everyone a chance to hydrate a bit more.

Score is 1-0 USA. Emma Hayes has not yet made a substitution.

5.30pm BST

68 min: Angelina’s corner is arced into the stratosphere. Girma clears it for a throw-in.

It’s astounding that Hayes has gone this long without making a substitution. Maybe Lavelle isn’t fit at all? But then why not call in alternate Croix Bethune?

5.29pm BST

67 min: We’ve been told the USA have subs warming up. Imagine Lavelle in a game this open.

Fox concedes a corner kick.

5.28pm BST

66 min: Sophia Smith beats the laboring Tarciane but rushes her shot wide.

5.27pm BST

65 min: Maybe this end of the field is the lucky end. Brazil had plenty of attacking power on that goal in the first half, and now, the USA are having similar joy.

5.26pm BST

64 min: What is going on? Brazil have only two defenders back in their half, and neither is near Smith. Lorena has to come out to claim it.

The USA win it back, and Rodman creates an opportunity for herself. It’s an open shot from the top of the area, but she sends it well wide.

5.25pm BST

63 min: Swanson is off on the break again, but Brazil recover well, and Swanson can’t do anything with it.

Smith wins a midfield battle but loses it soon thereafter.

This game is as open as a 24-hour convenience store.

5.24pm BST

62 min: Dunn, perhaps inspired by her fellow North Carolina alum Naya Tapper, makes a rugby tackle at midfield.

Updated at 5.52pm BST

5.24pm BST

Marta is in

Three subs: Marta for Ludmila, Angelina for Duda Sampaio, Priscila for Jhennifer.

Taking off Ludmila has to hurt. She was outstanding in the first half.

But this is it – surely the last major international game for one of the sport’s true legends.

Updated at 5.49pm BST

5.22pm BST

60 min: Tarciane is down hurt. Everyone gets a drink.

Jim asks: “When is the ref going to be strong enough to not allow the Brazilian gamesmanship?”

I actually don’t think it’s been too bad today, and again, I think stoppages help the USA here.

5.21pm BST

Goal stands! USA 1-0 Brazil (Swanson 57)

In her 100th game for the USA, Swanson has made a perfectly timed run and finished clinically past the excellent Lorena.

That came from nowhere.

Updated at 5.43pm BST

5.20pm BST

Goooooal ... maybe. If so, USA 1-0 Brazil (Swanson 57)

It’s a nice through ball from Albert, but at first glance it appears Swanson was off.

Replay shows it’s actually a lot closer. Was she on?

Updated at 5.41pm BST

5.19pm BST

57 min: Horan wins the ball and sees Rodman about to break into space. She plays it way too far in front of the US forward. Two chances in two minutes in which Horan’s pass just hasn’t been sufficient.

5.17pm BST

55 min: Nice header from Smith to flick the ball to Horan, who’s wide open. Her cross is best not described.

5.17pm BST

54 min: Girma and Fox stop a Brazilian counter.

The sun is posing a few problems here today. Many players have had to put up a hand as a temporary visor.

5.15pm BST

53 min: Swanson loses the ball far too easily – and this is part of the problem today. Brazil may have seen that previous opponents made little progress against the USA by letting them have the ball, and they’ve correctly figured that they can win a lot of these midfield battles.

5.14pm BST

51 min: Promising from the USA, but Smith’s cross is behind Swanson. Reset, and the ball gets to Sam Coffey in the penalty arc. Her shot goes far into the corner, sliced like many a shot in today’s golf.

5.12pm BST

50 min: Yaya goes off in a stretcher. Ana Vitoria comes on. She plays for Atletico Madrid. After this game, I think I’d like to see Corinthians play.

5.11pm BST

49 min: Vitoria Yaya is down on the field. She’s probably the one for whom Tarciane was signaling.

Again – these stoppages in play can only help the USA if they’re really that fatigued.

5.10pm BST

48 min: Smith in space, passes to Swanson in no space.

Tarciane has signaled to the Brazili bench that someone needs a sub. Marta time?

5.09pm BST

47 min: Fatigue? What fatigue? The USA are pressing right out of the gate in the second half.

5.08pm BST

46 min: Good pressure from Horan to win a throw-in deep in the attacking third, but it comes to naught.

Brazil counter, and Girma has to come over to clean up after Fox is beaten.

5.07pm BST

Second-half kickoff: No substitutions by either side.

5.02pm BST

Joe Pearson writes: “Regarding your comment on penalties, may I point out that Lorena has been a real presence in this tournament. Also, why isn’t Snoop there? You know he’ll be at the basketball final.”

I think you answered your own question, though I don’t know how far it is between venues in Paris. I’ll easily make the trip thanks to the magic of television. (Yes, it’s a double-blogging day for me. I need to do some finger stretches.)

4.58pm BST

The substitution issue: We’ve heard a lot about the USA being fatigued from a lack of lineup rotation throughout this tournament.

Here’s the problem …

They don’t have depth.

Jenna Nighswonger has looked overwhelmed by the occasion. Emma Hayes apparently doesn’t have faith in Jaedyn Shaw, who has not played a minute in France. Lynn Williams was ineffective in her last appearance.

Casey Krueger is a good veteran presence at outside back. Might we see her sooner than usual?

4.54pm BST

Halftime: USA 0-0 Brazil

The USA are remarkably fortunate to have reached this point without going behind.

Substitution ideas:

- Rose Lavelle for either Albert or Coffey

- Emily Sonnett for Davidson

- The Naomi Girma who has played for the last couple of years in place of the Naomi Girma who’s playing today. Not to single her out, but she has been such a dominant force at center back in this tournament and for a good while leading up to it, and she’s struggling right now.

4.51pm BST

45 min +5: Long ball ahead to Smith. She seems to be fouled, but she was offside first.

4.49pm BST

45 min +3: Girma is having a game miles below her usual standard. She sagged away from Portilho there to allow the shot. It’s a world-class save by Naeher to keep it 0-0.

You have to like the USA’s odds if this goes to penalties.

4.47pm BST

45 min +2: HUGE SAVE FOR NAEHER, point-blank from Portilho.

4.47pm BST

45 min +1: Brazil have the ball deep.

Arsene Wenger is on hand.

4.46pm BST

45 min: Swanson takes the kick, and Brazil immediately head it clear.

Foul near midfield on Albert. Brazil scream for a yellow card, but Olofsson again cuts off the conversation.

I was right – six minutes of stoppage time. Can the USA hold on?

4.45pm BST

44 min: USA free kick near the sideline, nearly 40 yards out.

I think they’re due to score from one.

4.44pm BST

43 min: The USA try to break free after the corner, but the ball is played off Smith for a Brazil throw-in.

I’ll anticipate 37 minutes of stoppage time. Well, maybe six – a few stoppages for medical attention and a long hydration break.

4.42pm BST

42 min: Rodman wins the ball, but only briefly. Brazil keep it in play in the corner, and Girma has to reach a leg out to concede the corner.

4.42pm BST

41 min: Vitoria Yaya wins the ball at midfield and unleashes a low-percentage long-range shot.

Davidson was injured earlier in the Games, and she might not be up for this. Will we see Emily Sonnett at halftime?

4.41pm BST

39 min: The USA are dispossessed far too easily.

Brazil come forward, and Naeher tries to boot the ball out of play, aiming diagonally for the intersection of the center line and touch line, but Brazil intercept.

Gabi Portilho leaves Davidson chasing ghosts and then crosses. Emily Fox heads it away for a corner kick.

4.39pm BST

38 min: Not sure how Sophia Smith got that foul called to her benefit.

Marta is warming up. We’ll surely see her in the second half. Nothing like bringing one of the best women’s soccer players ever off the bench.

4.38pm BST

37 min: A non-dangerous shot/cross from the USA.

Brazil move forward, and the crowd have gone virtually silent for some reason. It was a boisterous atmosphere for quite a while.

4.36pm BST

34 min: Sophia Smith works on the left flank and centers, but no one has kept up with the play.

Back pass to Lorena, and it’s dangerously weak. Swanson rushes forward to challenge. She runs into Lorena – didn’t seem too bad, but Lorena and the trainers decide to take their time before the game is allowed to continue.

Brazil can be accused of gamesmanship on occasion, but given the fact that they’ve rotated their lineup through the Games and the USA haven’t, you’d think time-wasting would benefit the USA.

4.33pm BST

As usual, this break runs longer than the supposed one minute.

Peter Oh writes: “The Tom Cruise sighting will come in handy when the referee starts being accused of having her Eyes Wide Shut.”

We also saw Nicole Kidman somewhere at the Games – maybe gymnastics?

Jeffry D. England: “The inconsistency with immediate and delayed offsides calls is really awful.”

That was indeed a strange decision to raise the flag on Smith. We haven’t seen a replay, and the call may very well have been correct. But it was surely close enough to check had Smith raced forward and scored.

4.31pm BST

30 min: Hydration break!

4.30pm BST

29 min: We’re having an issue with … the ball. It’s changed out before the USA take another futile free kick.

4.29pm BST

28 min: Long ball into the box for Ludmila, but she can’t get a head to it.

The USA’s outside backs are being completely overrun.

4.28pm BST

27 min: Swanson does not try the olimpico this time. It’s nowhere near connecting with a player.

The Brazilian counterattack nearly catches Naeher well off her line. Maybe 20 yards away.

Brazil center, and Girma clears.

4.27pm BST

26 min: CHANCE FOR THE USA! Mallory Swanson turns the corner on the counterattack! Saved, but the USA keep possession. Horan sends it over to Rodman, who earns another corner.

Updated at 4.49pm BST

4.25pm BST

25 min: Better defending from the USA here, with Davidson interposing her body to shield the ball long enough for Naeher to collect.

4.24pm BST

23 min: Swanson again seems to be going for the olimpico , and Lorena has to leap to pluck the ball from the air. It was probably going too far past the far post, though.

4.23pm BST

23 min: Coffey is knocked to the ground, but the referee rightly raises her hand to play advantage. USA earn another corner.

4.22pm BST

21 min: Will we see VAR intervention here? Crystal Dunn tries to shut down Adriana and earns a goal kick, but Adriana is looking for a penalty. Replay shows Dunn made some contact with her back leg. But the VAR check passes. No foul

4.21pm BST

20 min: Stern words from our Swedish referee to several Brazilian players after Swanson is roughed up in midfield.

Rodman is then whistled for a foul that seems … a little embellished? Maybe?

4.20pm BST

18 min: Another good chance as Gabi Portilho easily beats Tierna Davidson and crosses just ahead of the onrushing Ludmila.

This is looking a lot more like the 2007 World Cup semifinal (Brazil 4-0) than the 2008 Olympic final (USA 1-0). Brazil are running rampant.

4.19pm BST

17 min: Rodman gets a little grab-happy with Tarciane. Foul.

4.17pm BST

Goooaaal ... NO!

Or at least a VAR check.

Ludmila turns past Girma with stunning ease and blasts the ball into the net from an acute angle.

The flag and VAR bail out the US defense.

Naomi Girma has been the USA’s best player in this tournament. Shocking to see her beaten that easily.

Updated at 4.47pm BST

4.16pm BST

15 min: Albert fouls Adriana by armbar. Wrong spot. She looks up in protest, but it was rather obvious.

4.15pm BST

14 min: Naeher blasts the ball long, and the ball is flicked on to Smith. The flag goes up, which is a bit of a surprise given the instructions ARs have these days to wait and let VAR do their job for them.

A replay would be nice. That was close enough to take a look.

4.13pm BST

12 min: The cameras find Tom Cruise in the crowd.

Horan is fouled – that’s three fouls for Brazil to zero for the USA thus far.

Updated at 4.49pm BST

4.12pm BST

11 min: Rodman with an ankle-breaking move at midfield, and she’s free to play through to Smith, who once again earns a corner kick. That would’ve been one of the best assists we’ve seen from the US women.

Swanson places the corner kick on top of the net. Maybe trying an olimpico ?

4.11pm BST

10 min: The US corner only sparks a Brazilian counterattack. The USA scramble back.

4.10pm BST

9 min: Mallory Swanson falls just outside the penalty area. No foul is given.

Swanson then swings out left and centers the ball to Smith, whose shot is blocked out of play for a corner. Much better from the USA here.

4.09pm BST

8 min: Ludmila fouls Emily Fox, then points to her shoulder in an effort to claim it was a legal shoulder charge. Funny thing about the Laws of the Game – shoulder charges aren’t as protected as you might think.

4.08pm BST

I have neglected to mention our officials today:

Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden)
VAR: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)

I feel like Bebek has been on every game in some capacity.

4.07pm BST

6 min: Duda Sampaio brings the ball up the right flank with astonishing ease – where is Crystal Dunn? The center backs and midfielders scramble the ball clear.

4.06pm BST

6 min: Finally some offensive possession for the USA, though it ends with a tame shot on goal from Sophia Smith from the top of the penalty area.

4.05pm BST

5 min: And the streak continues … the ball is played too far in front of Horan.

4.04pm BST

4 min: Mallory Swanson is fouled – time to mention for the first time today the USA’s utter ineptitude on free kicks. I believe the stat NBC cites is one goal in four and a half years.

4.04pm BST

2 min: SHOT ON GOAL for Brazil. For the first time, Girma is beaten in central defense, though the real problem here was that Crystal Dunn kept Ludmila onside. The USA are a bit fortunate that the shot from 15 yards is right at Naeher and easily saved.

4.02pm BST

1 min: If you hate bunkers/low blocks, good news – Brazil are taking the fight forward.

Joe Pearson writes: “Since Rose was wearing a compression sleeve on her left leg last time out, I figure your second reason is more accurate.”

4.01pm BST

A bit surprising that Kerolin’s absence wasn’t emphasized in the announcements of the starting lineups.

The USA have broken out some striking blue jerseys with red shorts.

We’re underway …

Updated at 4.33pm BST

3.47pm BST

Medal count: If you are obsessed with the medal count, this is a very important game for the USA – at least, if you’re one of those people who would rather reward China for being unbeatable in two sports (diving, table tennis) that award 13 gold medals rather than being good across the board in a multitude of sports.

China have jumped out to a lead in the gold-medal tally. The USA have plenty of opportunities to get back in it, but they’ll have to take advantage of a lot of those. This game would be a good start.

If Brazil win this, I doubt anyone will put this game in any context of medal counts. Brazil are easily the best team in the history of women’s soccer that have never claimed either of the grand prizes – the World Cup or the Olympics. They were runners-up in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Since then, the best they’ve managed is fourth in 2016.

3.30pm BST

Brazil lineup

Again – NWSL MVP Kerolin is not in the lineup or on the bench.

Goalkeeper: Lorena (Gremio)

Defense (left to right): Tarciane (Houston/USA), Lauren (Madrid CFF/ESP), Thais (UDG Tenerife/ESP)

Midfield (left to right, supposedly): Yasmim (Corinthians), Duda Sampaio (Corinthians), Vitoria Yaya (Corinthians), captain Adriana (Orlando/USA)

Forwards: Ludmila (Chicago), Jhennifer (Corinthians), Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)

Wow – that’s a lot of players from one club.

Lauren was originally listed as an alternate.

3.23pm BST

US lineup

Rose Lavelle is on the bench.

Repeat – Rose Lavelle, one of the best playmakers the US team have ever had, is on the bench. Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey have shared time in the No. 6 role. Today, they’re both starting.

Is that a lack of confidence on the part of Emma Hayes? Or does Hayes figure that Lavelle, whose injury history reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, isn’t fit to go 120 minutes, and she’d rather insert Lavelle in the 60th?

Everything else is expected.

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago)

Defense (left to right): Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego), Emily Fox (Arsenal/ENG)

Midfield (roles to be determined): Korbin Albert (PSG/FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland), captain Lindsey Horan (Lyon/FRA)

Forwards: Sophia Smith (Portland), Mallory Swanson (Chicago), Trinity Rodman (Washington)

3.15pm BST

Preamble

In 2008, at the women’s soccer Olympic final, I sat down in the press tribune next to one of my colleagues and pronounced that the USA had no chance of winning.

How could they? They were facing a Brazilian team that had run them off the field in the 2007 World Cup. Abby Wambach had broken her leg and missed the Olympics. Brazil was finally going to get its first world or Olympic championship.

But the defense held up, Carli Lloyd put a speculative shot into the goal in extra time, and the USA had gold once again.

This time, the USA should be favored. Brazil didn’t get out of its group in last year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica. The USA beat this team 1-0 in the Gold Cup final in March while tinkering with lineups under an interim coach. Brazil barely got through the group stage in these Olympics.

Last week, Marta’s career seemed doomed to end with the ignominy of a red card. Now it could end with an elusive championship – though she’s listed on the bench in the just-released lineups. Kerolin, the 2023 NWSL MVP, isn’t listed on the lineup at all.

But is Brazil the team of destiny this time? They’ve beaten France and Spain. The US attack has been inefficient in the knockout rounds.

Is it time for payback – and a long-awaited gold medal for one of the best players women’s soccer has ever seen?

3.00pm BST

Beau will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Karen Carney on today’s game:

At the beginning of the Olympics few expected Emma Hayes to take the USA all the way to the final in Paris, months after starting her job as the coach of a struggling women’s national team – but she has made an immediate impact.

My former manager at Chelsea will take on Brazil – and one of my all-time heroes, Marta – in Saturday’s gold-medal match. I am privileged that I will witness in person Hayes’s quest to become an Olympic champion. Some doubted what she could achieve in such a short time but when I booked my seat months ago, in the back of my mind I thought Hayes and the USA would be in the final. I suspected they would come up against Spain, only for Brazil to dispatch the world champions comprehensively in the semi-finals, showing how dangerous the South Americans are.

I am sure Hayes would have accepted getting to learn about her group of young and exciting players but she always backs herself to get to a final and has quickly brought confidence to a group who are enjoying their football after turbulent times. Winning is obviously very helpful but creating the right environment has always been one of Hayes’s strengths.

Hayes has worked in the States and with plenty of Americans so she is not a complete outsider and knows what makes individuals tick. Alongside her is the American Denise Reddy, her assistant in her last four years at Chelsea, so they have a good understanding of what they want to create, which has helped accelerate the process.