The United States women’s national soccer team is set to face off against Brazil in the finals of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the goal of winning their first Olympic gold medal since 2012. This highly anticipated match comes after a series of impressive performances by the USWNT, led by new manager Emma Hayes.
The USWNT had a strong start in the group stage, winning their first three matches by a combined score of 9-2. However, their quarterfinal and semifinal victories were hard-fought battles, with late goals from Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith securing crucial wins against Japan and Germany, respectively.
As the USWNT prepares to take on Brazil in the gold medal match, here are some key things to know about extra time in soccer, how shootouts work, and more:
Extra time in soccer is similar to overtime in other sports like the NFL or NBA. If a game is tied at the end of regulation (90 minutes), it moves on to two 15-minute periods. The USWNT scored crucial goals in the first half of extra time in their recent victories.
Shootouts in soccer are high-pressure situations where each team selects five players to take penalty kicks. The team with the most goals wins, and if it’s still tied, it goes into sudden death until a winner is determined.
Golden goal, a sudden death variation of extra time, was introduced in certain international tournaments in 1993 but has largely disappeared from professional soccer. The USWNT’s extra-time wins did not end with a golden goal.
Stoppage time in soccer refers to added time at the end of each half or period to account for stoppages in play. This additional time is determined by the referee and can vary depending on the match.
The USWNT’s gold medal match against Brazil will air on USA Network, with a Spanish language broadcast on Telemundo. Streaming options include NBCOlympics.com, the NBC Olympics app, Peacock, and Fubo.
In conclusion, the USWNT’s journey to the Olympic gold medal match against Brazil has been filled with excitement and drama. With a revamped roster and a new manager at the helm, the team is poised to make history and bring home the gold. Fans can tune in to watch this thrilling match and witness the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from the USWNT.