Germany dethrones the United States in Olympic women's soccer

For the first time since the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the women’s soccer tournament was won by a team other than the United States as Germany bested Sweden 2-1 in Friday’s gold-medal match for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro at the packed Maracana Stadium.

It also marked the first time in the women’s tournament’s six editions that the USA didn’t reach the final at all, following an upset by Sweden on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals. The Swedes, managed by former U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, reached their first ever Olympic final, as did Germany.

Sweden, which made it this far by bunkering and countering to vanquish technically superior teams like the U.S. and Brazil, took a more optimistic approach against Germany. And just nine minutes in, Olivia Schough cut to a sharp cross by Lotta Schelin but missed the target with her finish.

Germany had the better chances of the first half, as Melanie Leupolz headed over Dzsenifer Marozsan’s cross and Anja Mittag missed a gloriously open 6-yard shot on a rebound from a Hedvig Lindahl parry.

The Germans eventually capitalized on the more proactive Swedish tactics just after halftime. Marozsan, long one of the most talented players in the game who never quite delivered on the biggest stage, found some room at the edge of the box and curled in a beautiful shot to put her side ahead.

Then, shortly after the hour, Marozsan sent a free kick caroming off the near post. But it bounced to defender Linda Sembrant, who, with three Germans barreling down on her, accidentally knocked the ball into her own net to double the score.

 

Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan, center, celebrates her goal against Sweden during the women’s Olympic gold-medal match on Friday in Rio de Janeiro. (Getty)

The wily Swedes, however, would not be defeated so easily. In a swooping attack, Stina Blackstenius cut the lead in half with a goal in the 67th minute. Kosovare Asllani built the attack and launched Schough, whose square ball set up Blackstenius.

That opened up the game as both teams urgently pursued another goal. Germany quickly forged a pair of chances, but Leupolz and Alexandra Popp both failed to capitalize on Lindahl’s shaky performance in goal.

After a long tournament spent defending, Sweden staged a late assault on the German goal. But the lone real chance was wasted by Schough’s mishit on a clear shot. A series of scrambles in the box led to nothing and Germany’s lead would hold up.

If the German men’s soccer team wins its own final Saturday against Brazil, it will mark the first time that the same country has won both the men’s and women’s Olympic soccer tournament.