Women’s Olympic Gold Medal Soccer: Finally a Score (Spoiler Alert, Bob)

Pick a cliché - defense wins championships; they left it all on the field; there’s no “i” in team… a multitude of other clichés apply too. It was a battle.

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team claimed Olympic gold with a 1 - 0 win over a determined and dangerous Brazil team. It had to be settled in extra time.

The team from Brazil is just so talented. The Brazilian attackers were relentless in testing the American defense. When the American defenders were beaten individually, the team defense was there to rescue. And when there was a shot on goal, the American goalkeeper, Hope Solo, was absolutely brilliant.

Brazil’s team has speed, athleticism and creative individual ball skills. And they played a very tough, physical game. The American defense remained disciplined and it was obvious that they were prepared and well coached. The U.S. women often sent two defenders to mark the attacker. It meant that, in extra time, the U.S. defenders had lost a step or two but they simply persisted.

This was an emotional defeat for the team from Brazil. They have such talented attackers that it seemed like it was only a matter of the next ball strike before they scored. However, the U.S. defenders gave stellar effort and the U.S. women played the best game of their Beijing Olympic experience. Kudos to the U.S. team - kudos to the team from Brazil.

Catherine Forsythe