USWNT wins fifth Olympic gold medal with 1-0 win over Brazil in final

PARIS (AP) — The United States women’s soccer team won its fifth Olympic gold medal, beating Brazil 1-0 on a goal by Mallory Swanson early in the second half in the tournament final on Saturday at the Paris Games.

The Americans, who had not won gold since the 2012 London Olympics, completed an unbeaten run en route to the title in their first international campaign under new coach Emma Hayes.

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher preserved the victory with a one-handed save on Adriana’s header in added time at the Parc des Princes.

The defeat is another heartbreak for Brazil and its iconic star, Marta. The six-time world player of the year has never won a Women’s World Cup or an Olympic Games. This will likely be her last major international tournament.

This is the third victory for the United States against Brazil in an Olympic final. The Americans had already beaten the Brazilians in 2004 in Athens and four years later in Beijing.

Brazil has never finished better than second at the Olympics.

Three years ago in Tokyo, the United States had to settle for the bronze medal. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Swanson’s 57th-minute goal came in his 100th appearance for the United States.

Tom Cruise and former American football star Megan Rapinoe were among those in the crowd.

The United States also won gold in 1996 at the Atlanta Games in the first women’s football tournament at the Olympics.