Medal Rounds Recap: USWNT Captures Bronze, Canada Wins Olympic Gold

Women’s soccer at the Olympics featured some incredible matches. With so much at stake, the tension in each match was palpable with a new nation crowned as Olympic Champion. While the USWNT could not bring home the gold, they looked amazing in the bronze medal match against Australia. As for the final, it was a perfect way to end the tournament, a back and forth affair that saw Canada win Olympic gold for the first time ever. Here’s a recap of the medal rounds for women’s soccer at the Olympics. 

The Olympic Gold Medal Match: Sweden vs. Canada

Before getting into how great the USWNT looked in their game to win the bronze medal, Canada must give credit first for winning the gold. On paper, both the USWNT and Sweden were better than Canada and even performed better, but with sheer determination, toughness, and skill, Canada defeated them both. 

Canada has been working towards this for so long, and they deserve their flowers for this performance as a team. Christine Sinclair handed the ball to Jesse Fleming in back-to-back games against the USWNT and Sweden, and converted two clutch penalties that helped get Canada to this point. 

While Sweden was the best team in the tournament and deserved better, they simply did not take their chances in extra time or during the penalty shootout. Caroline Seger, Sweden’s captain and one of their most experienced players, missed her penalty that would’ve given Sweden the Olympic gold medal. It was a dramatic final with back and forth action, but in the end, it was Julia Grosso for Canada who scored the winning penalty. 

FOR THE FIRST TIME – CANADA HAS WON GOLD IN WOMEN'S SOCCER! ?#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/nj0TwLt8Z9

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2021

A gold medal for Canada is huge. There’s an entire generation of young girls inspired to do the same for Canada in the future. Additionally, their soccer federation will grow leaps and bounds with this win. Lastly, Christine Sinclair deserves this win more than anyone, a legacy-defining win that only solidifies her status as one of the GOATs of the sport. 

The Olympic Bronze Medal Match: USWNT vs. Australia

As for the team the Canadians beat to get to the final, the USWNT, they looked a lot better against Australia. The Matildas’ defense isn’t as strong as Canada’s or Sweden’s, which is partly why we saw the American offense come alive. With that being said, Megan Rapinoe made a huge statement in what could’ve been her last match at the Olympics. 

First off, she scored an Olympico (goal directly from a corner kick) and struck the ball perfectly. You can tell from her follow-through and how the ball curved towards the goal that that’s what she was going for. 

HOW ABOUT THAT START?!? ? @mPinoe

? @NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/l17IJVo2ju

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) August 5, 2021

Then, for her second goal of the match, she punished the Matildas emphatically for their defensive error. 

Twice as nice from @mPinoe ? pic.twitter.com/vVIknstFWT

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) August 5, 2021

The USWNT needed this kind of performance to end the competition on a high note. Vlatko Andonovski will certainly face some criticism for not leading the team to an Olympic gold medal or at least the final match, but the way they played in this match proves how great this team can be when at their best. They did put their foot off the gas at 4-1 and let the Matildas make it 4-3, but the USWNT will be happy with their bronze medal, and so should we. 

Things didn’t turn out the way we all would have hoped, but once every five to six years, the USWNT needs to experience a bad loss to keep them motivated for the next major competition. So while the Americans celebrate a bronze medal, Canada deserves all the appreciation for what they achieved. It’s a historic victory for their country in soccer and one that will take the sport to new heights. 

Featured image via @TeamCanada on Twitter

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