Glimpsing a sliver of the net, Sophia Smith's aim was true.
In a nail-biting semifinal at the Paris Olympics, Smith's extra-time goal secured the USA's spot in the gold medal game with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Germany on Tuesday.
The American team, undefeated in France under the leadership of new coach Emma Hayes, is now set to compete for their fifth gold medal in their sixth Olympic women's football final appearance.
USA will take on Brazil, who shot past Spain 4-2 in the late game, in the tournament final on Saturday in Paris. Meanwhile, Germany will face Spain for the bronze medal on Friday in Lyon.
Smith broke the scoreless stalemate five minutes into extra time, skillfully outmaneuvering defender Felicitas Rauch and German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. After netting her third goal of the tournament, Smith celebrated her decisive strike by joining teammate Mallory Swanson in an emotional embrace.
\"I saw like a little opening of net and I was just like, 'I've got to put it there. Just put it there,'\" Smith said. \"It was a good feeling. I know I had a few other chances this game that I should have put away. But sometimes one is all it takes.\"
At the final whistle, American players rushed down the field to celebrate with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who made a crucial save by jumping and kicking the ball away from the goal with her left foot in the dying moments of extra time.
\"The goal is closer but the job's not done yet,\" Swanson said. \"I think that obviously we're in a great position. You take this win and we're on a high right now, but it's important just to stay steady with everything we're doing. Just stay steady.\"
The Americans had previously dominated Germany 4-1 in the group stage earlier in the tournament.
USA had missed out on the finals in the last two Olympic tournaments, being eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and relegated to the bronze-medal match at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
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