TOKYO, Japan – The United States Women’s National Team earned their first ever Olympic Bronze Medal thanks to a 4-3 victory over Australia in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Bronze Medal Match on Thursday at Kashima Stadium in Kashima, Japan.
Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd each had a brace to pace the U.S. to the win.
It was a scintillating start from the U.S. with Rapinoe opening the scoring in grand style. The 36-year-old took a corner kick in the 8’ and promptly curled it in from the corner flag for the goal and a 1-0 U.S. lead.
Back came Australia and it was 1-1 in the 17’ when Sam Kerr was able to squeeze in her left-footed shot in under U.S. GK Adrianna Franch.
Rapinoe would answer in kind in the 21’ for her second goal of the day by taking advantage of a misplayed clearance from the Australian defense and volleying home a right-footed shot to regain the U.S. lead, 2-1.
Lloyd would then get in the action right before halftime in the 45+1’ by receiving a ball between two Australian defenders and hammering a left-footed shot that beat Australia GK Teagan Micah to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead at the break.
Lloyd was at her predatorial best on her second goal in the 51’ by anticipating a headed back-pass from the Australian defense and finishing through the legs of Micah to make it 4-1.
Australia would mount a comeback, though, and they pulled to within to 4-2 in the 54’ courtesy of a well-placed header from Caitlin Foord.
Australia then made it a nervy final few minutes for the U.S., as the Matildas cut the gap to 4-3 in the 90’ on Emily Gielnik’s right-footed strike, but in the end, the U.S. would hold on to secure the Bronze.
