USWNT Defeats Australia To Capture Bronze Medal At Tokyo Olympics
Aug 5, 2021, 4:04 AM | Updated: 4:18 am
Megan Rapinoe #15 of Team United States celebrates after scoring their side's first goal during the Women's Bronze Medal match between United States and Australia on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kashima Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Kashima, Japan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The United States Women’s National Team defeated Australia to earn the Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
The USWNT played Australia for third place at the Games on Thursday, August 5.
After 90-plus minutes of action, Team USA defeated Australia, 4-3, to capture the Bronze Medal.
The result gave the USWNT its sixth Olympic medal all-time.
BREAKING: The @USWNT is bringing home some hardware. 🥉@TeamUSA defeats Australia in the Bronze Medal Game, 4-3.
Read more on the @kslsports app!#KSLOlympics #TokyoOlympics
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/IW63XPtDw6— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 5, 2021
It’s also the first Bronze medal earned by the USA in women’s soccer in the Olympics.
The USWNT was lead to victory by Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd, who each scored a pair of goals in the win.
FINAL | And that's it! Two goals each from @mPinoe and @CarliLloyd and the 🇺🇸 has captured its sixth Olympic medal overall! pic.twitter.com/E5uKAWH9bL
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) August 5, 2021
Rapinoe got things started early for the USA and scored the match’s first goal on a beautiful corner kick in the eighth minute of action.
WATCH. THIS. GOAL.
An unbelievable corner by Megan Rapinoe! #TokyoOlympics x @USWNT
Stream: https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA pic.twitter.com/jvod0GDyAB
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
Australia’s Sam Kerr leveled the match with a goal of her own in the 17th minute.
Rapinoe didn’t let Australia maintain its equalizer for long and scored her second goal of the contest only four minutes later in the 21st minute.
Megan Rapinoe STRIKES AGAIN! 💥
That's 2 goals for @USWNT at the #TokyoOlympics.
Stream: https://t.co/FmEtvutDRApic.twitter.com/utQL6vvEnI
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
Lloyd added to the USWNT’s lead with her first goal during stoppage time at the end of the first half.
CARLI. LLOYD.@CarliLloyd with @USWNT's third goal before the end of the half! @TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics
📺 USA Network
💻 https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/iUTFTvvMwJ— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
Shortly after halftime, Lloyd gave the USA a 4-1 advantage with another goal in the 51st minute. It was Lloyd’s 10th ever goal in the Olympics and made her the USWNT’s all-time scorer in the Games.
HISTORY MADE!
ICYMI, Carli Lloyd becomes @USWNT's leading scorer in Olympic history with 10 goals. @TeamUSA x #TokyoOlympics // @OnHerTurf x #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/bqNRK3wKHr
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 5, 2021
Australia got back into the contest three minutes later with a Caitlin Foord goal in the 54th minute.
Despite holding at least a two goal lead for much of the match, Australia’s Emily Gielnik made things tense for the USWNT in the final minutes.
Gielnik scored a goal in the 90th minute and made the USA play hard throughout the four-plus minutes of stoppage time to close out the match with a one-score victory.
