KASHIMA, Aug 5: Although the color of their medal wasn’t what they wanted, the mettle of the team came through in the end.
The United States salvaged a rocky tournament by winning bronze in women’s football at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday. Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd scored two goals each in a 4-3 win over Australia after opening the Tokyo Games with an uncharacteristic 3-0 loss to Sweden.
The loss spoiled the Australians’ first-ever trip to the medal round at the Olympics. No Australian football team, men or women, has ever won a medal.
Rapinoe scored directly from a corner kick in the eighth minute to give the Americans an early lead.
It was the second time Rapinoe has scored an Olimpico, as goals from corners are known: She also had one in the semifinals of the 2012 Olympics against Canada.
Sam Kerr pulled the Australians even with a goal in the 17th minute that got past U.S. goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Rapinoe’s second goal came on a stunning volley in the 21st. Lloyd made it 3-1 in first-half stoppage time and added another on a break in the 51st minute.
Lloyd made her 312th appearance for the national team. (AP)
