The U.S. Women’s National Team finished atop Group B and made it three wins in three group stage matches with a 2-1 victory over Australia on July 31 at Stade de Marseille.
Forward Trinity Rodman tallied her second goal of the Olympics and midfielder Korbin Albert notched the eventual match-winner with a brilliant strike from distance as the USA held back a late surge from Australia to claim three more points and win all three group stage matches for just the second time in eight Olympic appearances.
Facing an organized and compact Matildas defense, the U.S. dominated possession in the first half and finally broke through in the 43rd minute as Rodman scored her second goal of the tournament, converting on a corner kick that she earned by forcing Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to push her shot over the cross bar. Rose Lavelle served in the ensuring corner, which Sophia Smith headed back across goal towards the near post. Rodman pounced on the bouncing ball and poked it in from close range to give the USA a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.
While Australia began to push forward more in the second half, the U.S. continued to control pace and possession, thanks in large part to the introduction of several subs just after the hour mark. One of those substitutes, 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Albertquickly got to work making her mark on the match as well as some history. In the 77th minute, Albert collected a clearance by the Australian defense and rocketed a shot into the upper left corner, giving the U.S. a 2-0 advantage. With the goal, Albert became the first American woman to score her first international goal at the Olympics and made her the youngest player to score for the USWNT at the Olympics since Mallory Swanson scored as an 18-year-old at Rio 2016.
In desperation mode, Australia finally found a bit of attacking rhythm as regulation time expired and halved the deficit with an alert finish by veteran defender Alanna Kennedy in the 90+1st minute. But the Americans held on for the victory, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against Japan at Parc des Princes in Paris.