In what can only be described as a tactical masterpiece, the US WNT defeated Brazil 1-0 in overtime to claim the Olympic Gold medal. Carli Lloyd's spinless, dipping, shot inside the far post in the 6th minute of the thirty minute overtime proved to be the game winner.
Despite repeated challenges by Brazil's Marta, arguably the best player in the women's game, the US defense held fast. US goal keeper Hope Solo, scorned by now deposed coach Greg Ryan in last year's World Cup semifinal, was brilliant in net. No save was bigger than Solo's reaction save of a point blank Marta blast in the 72nd minute.
The US opened in a 4-4-2 and played low pressure allowing the Brazilian backs plenty of time and space to knock the ball around and bring it forward. However, all spaces were fiercely contested after that and the Brazilians, known for their creativity, rarely found themselves in 1 v 1 situations.
Kudos to Swedish born US coach, Pia Sundhage, for devising the strategy necessary to blunt the freewheeling Brazilian attack and getting her players to play it so well with patience and intensity. The win is all the sweeter for Solo who had been shunned by teammates after last year's World Cup debacle when she was inexplicably replaced in goal for the Brazil game in which the US was shelled 4-0.
It was a remarkable win for a US squad who were playing without their leading scorer, injured striker Abby Wambach.
