2024 Olympics: Rodman goal vs Japan sends USA into semi-finals | OneFootball

The USA and Japan kicked off the 2024 Olympics quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon at the Parc des Princes. The USA won by a single goal thanks to a curling effort from Trinity Rodman in extra time.

The defeat saw Japan exit the competition, while Emma Hayes’ side progress to the final four with a fifth gold medal in sight.

Starting XIs

USA

Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Dunn, Albert, Lavelle, Horan, Rodman, Swanson, Smith

Japan

Yamashita; Minami, Kumagai, Koga, Kitagawa, Nagano, Hasegawa, Moriya, Fujino, Tanaka, Seike

How it went

The first chance of the game fell to Lindsey Horan following an Emily Sonnett cross, her header however was straight at Ayaka Yamashita in the Japan goal. A first half with few chances for either side saw Japan get their first in the 35th minute. Mina Tanaka cut inside the box and unleased a shot but her effort was straight into the hands of Alyssa Naeher.

The deadlock remained going into the interval. The USA had dominated the first half with 78 percent possession. Despite this, they only achieved two shots on target.

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The second half followed the pattern of the first. The USA were dominating the match, and maintaining hold of the ball. A great clearance in the 50th minute by Crystal Dunn stopped Hikaru Kitagawa from tapping the ball home at the back post. This was the first real chance of the second half.

It seemed like the USA were going to take the win with only minutes to go. Trinity Rodman’s shot was blocked by some unbelievable defending, sending the game into extra time.

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USA issue Japan heartbreak

Extra time was no different. The USA were dictating the play whilst Japan were limited to opportunities on the counterattack. Hinata Miyazawa had Japan’s first chance of extra time. She found herself in acres of space on the right-hand side but fired her shot into the side netting.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 105th minute. Crystal Dunn played an excellent ball over the top to Rodman. She cut inside and curled her effort into the top corner. The goal was enough to send the USWNT into the semi-finals, while Japan’s journey in Paris ends here.

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