This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Brazilian legend Marta was 18 years old in 2004 when the U.S. Women’s National Team broke her heart after Abby Wambach scored the go-ahead goal in extra time of the Olympics gold-medal match.
Four years later, it was a repeat as the U.S. again earned gold against Brazil on a 96th-minute goal by Carli Lloyd.
Now 38, Marta will face her nemesis with the gold medal on the line one final time in Paris on Saturday. She is seeking her first Olympic title while the Americans try for their fifth, with the most recent being in 2012.
“This team has always had a standard of winning, and winning on the biggest stage,” U.S. forward Sophia Smith said. “We take so much pride in that and want to uphold that in everything that we do to pay our respects to the players that have come before us.”
Unlike her previous five Olympics in which it was Marta or bust in terms of Brazilian success, she relied on teammates to reach this gold-medal match.
Marta, who will retire from international play at the end of 2024, was suspended the past two matches after picking up a red card in the last group stage match against Spain. She is eligible for the final after Brazil defeated host France in the quarterfinals and 2023 World Cup champion Spain in the semis.
“Honestly, in these games without Marta, we did it for her,” Brazil midfielder Angelina said. “We want to give her a really great send-off. It was a dream of mine to play with Marta, and now it’s a dream come true. To do it in the final in the Olympics, it’s just perfect.”
While Brazil coach Arthur Elias must decide whether to keep the lineup intact or reinsert Marta, there’s no question who will be leading the U.S. attack.
Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson each have three of the 11 goals scored by the Americans. Rodman and Smith scored overtime goals for 1-0 victories in the past two matches.
“We’re just so dynamic, we’re so fluid,” Smith said. “We all can play everywhere on the frontline and that is hard to defend.”
Saturday could be extra special for Smith, who turns 24 that day.
“We want to leave with gold,” she said. “We’ve made it so far. We’ve worked so hard. … It would be the best birthday present.”
–Field Level Media
