BEIJING — Outplayed and overwhelmed for most of the night, the Americans got the only shot they needed.
Olympic champions, once again.
Carli Lloyd scored in the sixth minute of extra time Thursday night, Hope Solo bailed out her teammates time and again, and the United States beat Brazil 1-0 to win the gold medal in women’s soccer for the third time in four Olympics. As the final whistle sounded, the Americans charged across the field, hugging anyone in sight. Someone handed out flags, and several players took off, running.
“The team is definitely on a high right now, believing we were going to make a statement in the whole tournament,” captain Christie Rampone said. “It didn’t start like we wanted to, but we just kept digging and getting better each game. It was a full team effort, and it was so special with everyone doing it together.”
The victory was a bit of redemption for the Americans, who went to the World Cup as favorites last fall only to be humbled 4-0 in the semifinals by Brazil. And for no one was it sweeter than Solo, who was banished from the World Cup bronze medal-game after criticizing then-coach Greg Ryan for not playing her against Brazil even though she’d allowed just two goals in four World Cup starts, and had a shutout streak of nearly 300 minutes going.
Several minutes after Thursday’s game ended, Solo sprinted back out onto the field, a gaudy imitation gold medal around her neck, a phone to her ear and a bright smile on her face. She closed her eyes when the American anthem began playing, and bounced proudly and gripped her medal when the team posed for pictures afterward. A few fans in the crowd chanted, “We want Hope! We want Hope!”
The victory was the first in a major tournament for coach Pia Sundhage and gave the Americans their third gold medal since women’s soccer was added in 1996. The United States’ only loss was in the 2000 final to Norway.
“When I was 6 years old, I thought I was the only girl in the whole world who played soccer. I wasn’t allowed to play because I was a girl,” Sundhage said. “Back then, I could never imagine to be a professional player or a professional coach. Now I’m sitting with a great player, Christie Rampone, and looking at her gold medal. I am so proud.”
For the Brazilians, it was bitter disappointment. This is the third time in a row they’ve been the runner-up at a top event. They outplayed the Americans in the 2004 final, too, and lost in extra time. They also fell to Germany in the World Cup final last year. After the game, goalkeeper Barbara was on her back, sobbing, while Cristiane sat on the ground crying.
“I have no idea why we can’t win a final,” said Marta, who sobbed when she got her silver medal. “It’s something I’m going to keep asking myself for a long time. You keep asking what you did wrong.”
Solo kept the Americans in the game for the first 85 minutes, making at least a half-dozen big saves. The most impressive came in the 72nd minute, when Marta lost the ball behind Heather Mitts and Kate Markgraf and then picked it back up for a close-range shot that looked certain to be in. But Solo leaned out, threw up her right arm and sent the ball flying out of harm’s way.
“I don’t understand why the ball wouldn’t go in,” Marta said. “In so many games before we were able to score easily, but today it wasn’t the case.”
The rest of the Americans picked up the slack in the last five minutes of regulation, nearly scoring three times — twice in the 86th minute alone.
Then, in extra time, Amy Rodriguez held off two Brazilians and put the ball up for Lloyd who gave it a light touch with her right foot and then left-footed it from a yard outside the area. Barbara dived, but the ball scooted past her and settled in the far bottom corner of the net.
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