Sophia Smith s extra-time strike booked the United States a place in the Olympic Games final with a 1-0 win over Germany on Tuesday.
Mallory Swanson was denied a winner in normal time, and though Germany pushed for a late equaliser, Emma Hayes will take charge of a final in her first tournament as the USA s head coach.
Unlike in the group-stage meeting between these sides, which finished 4-1 to the dominant Stars and Stripes, it was Germany who almost took a first-half lead, with Alyssa Naeher reacting quickly to get down and push Jule Brand s low shot wide.
In the 86th minute, Mallory Swanson thought she had snatched a late winner – she latched onto Trinity Rodman s throughball and drilled her low shot across goal into the bottom corner, but the offside flag …