Olympics: USWNT edges Brazil to win 5th gold, 1st since 2012 - ESPN

PARIS — The U.S.women's national team won the Olympic gold medal on Saturday, beating Brazil 1-0 in a game that required a stout defensive stand in the first half followed by a precise and calculated surge in the second to deny Brazil and its legendary captain Marta.

It was a familiar ending to a tournament that had been so much about what's new for the USWNT: a new coach in Emma Hayes, a new front line of attackers and a new outlook after the disappointment of last summer's Women's World Cup all meshed together to result in a record-extending fifth Olympic title, and first since 2012, for the U.S. women, who never trailed at any point in their six matches in France.

Mallory Swanson scored the winning goal in the 57th minute with a slick finish after running through on goal, but young midfielder Korbin Albert — who delivered the ball — and Sophia Smith, who smartly ran away from the play after realizing she was in an offside position, were the facilitators. Once Swanson curled her shot past Brazil goalkeeper Lorena, the crowd at the Parc des Princes — which included Tom Cruise and Megan Rapinoe — exploded.

It was Swanson's fourth goal of the tournament, most among the Americans and tied for second most among all players in the competition. Brazil, which had been in command for much of the game's early stages, continued to push forward in search of an equalizer but couldn't find its way through. U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was her team's most valuable player in the first half, did not allow a goal in the knockout rounds.

The match was played on the same field where the men's teams from Spain and France played out an eight-goal classic in their final a day earlier, and the women's teams began at a pace that at least