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The decisive players with two goals each: Carli Lloyd (left) and Megan Rapinoe
Photo:
Andre Penner / AP
The USA won the game for the bronze medal at the Olympic football tournament against Australia 4: 3 (3: 1). The goals for the top favorites, who were eliminated in the semifinals against Canada, were scored by Megan Rapinoe (8th minute / 21st) and Carli Lloyd (45th + 1 / 51st). For the Australians, Sam Kerr (17th), who is now the Matildas' record goalscorer with 48 international goals, met Caitlin Foord (54th) and Emily Gielnik (90th).
For Rapinoe, who achieved worldwide fame with her political engagements, the games up to this game were similar to those for the entire American team: mixed. In the group stage the USA had clearly lost to Sweden and played 0-0 against Australia, only won on penalties in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands and lost to Canada despite a field superiority. Rapinoe only started twice, the 36-year-old had to get used to the role of substitute.
In the first half against Australia, Rapinoe opened the scoring with a straight corner.
From the left she turned the ball with a lot of cut into the six-yard box, the Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah was surprised and did not look good.
After a mistake by the US defense, Foord put the ball through to Kerr and the Chelsea striker hit the near corner.
Lloyd remains the woman for the important goals
But it was only four minutes before Rapinoe struck a second time.
Alanna Kennedy tried to clear a flank, but struck a candle in the process.
Rapinoe volleyed the ricochet and shot the ball into the left corner of the goal.
Shortly before the break, it was attacker Lloyd, who moved on to the starting line-up for Alex Morgan, who used a pass from Lindsey Horan.
Another mistake by Kennedy earned Lloyd a second goal in the second half.
The 39-year-old Lloyd had scored the US soccer players with one goal in the 2008 Olympic final, two goals in the 2012 Olympic final and with three goals in the 2015 World Cup final to three titles.
It is still unclear whether Lloyd and Rapinoe will continue in the national team after the games.
At the next highlight, the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the two offensive stars would be 41 and 38 years old.
After the 2: 4 by Foord, who hit with a head, Kerr had a good chance to hit the post with a shot from the post, then the game could have tipped over.
Both teams were fully on the offensive and allowed a lot in their defensive ranks.
However, Australia only managed to shorten it in the 90th minute, that was too late.
So the USA did not let the bronze medal be withdrawn.
Canada will face Sweden in the final on Friday night (4 a.m. CEST).
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