Extra-Time Ecstasy: Trinity Rodman’s Heroics Sends USWNT Past Japan, 1-0, in Quarterfinals at Paris Olympics

PARIS – It took a moment of brilliance from Trinity Rodman to push the U.S. women’s national team past Japan, 1-0, to move on to the semifinals at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The forward’s goal in extra time helped the squad avoid a penalty shootout and breathe a sigh of relief.

The last time the USWNT faced Japan in the Olympics was back during the gold-medal game at the Olympic Games London 2012, where the U.S. edged out in a 2-1 victory. This time around, Japan reached the quarterfinals after finishing in second place off a 2-1 record in Group C behind Spain, the recent 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup winners.

Yet again, U.S. head coach Emma Hayes decided to stick with her undefeated starting 11 that she utilized across the group stage – barring injuries – except for one change: Korbin Albert made her first start, replacing Sam Coffey, who had to sit out due to card accumulation.

Albert, 20, and Coffey, 25, are both known for playing holding midfielder for the team, making this an easy selection for Hayes, who witnessed Albert’s game-winning goal against Australia in their 2-1 win during the group stage Thursday night.

“I put Korbin out to come in and play the role of the pivot; that’s not easy,” said Hayes on her one roster change. “You have to play in the tiny little pockets, and she did that with quality.”

And Hayes defended her decision to keep the rest of the starters the same as the team holds onto a 4-0 flawless record now.

“I don’t believe we would’ve gone through if we made too many changes,” Hayes mentioned after the game. “It’s those relationships that are developing that are putting us in a situation against a world-class opponent in a very, very short space of time.”

When asked about how she felt about getting more playing time, Albert attributed her success to Hayes’ new team environment of making everyone the best version of themselves.

“I just think it’s the environment that Emma is creating,” Albert said. “It’s just allowing everyone to flourish on the team and really feel comfortable in their own skin. I think we’re just mending better as a team, and it’s just been really, really good.

Albert noted, however, that she was still very nervous going into the match starting in the No. 6 role.

“I was a little bit nervous; it’s a knockout round,” Albert said. “But this is my home field where I’ve played with (Paris Saint-Germain), so I felt very comfortable going into the stadium, which really helped.”

By full-time, Japan had successfully prevented every USWNT attack and provided some of their own on the counter. Their low-block tactics had made it difficult for the Americans to get through, even though some of their attempts were very close throughout the first 90 minutes.

Every chance Japan got caused concern for the former Chelsea FC Women manager.

“I think that (Japan) played a brilliant match today and they brought out our best patience, which is the most needed skill today,” Hayes said in reaction to the game. “It’s not always flashy, and it’s not always what fans want to see. But this is football, and football requires different tactical abilities from game-to-game, and we played the right game for the right opponent."

It was a stalemate by the end of regulation, though, further putting Team USA’s semifinals hopes in doubt. Both sides fared good chances, with the U.S. leading, 14-11, in shot attempts (3-1 on target) and holding onto 71.8 percent of the ball overall.

But in the second minute of stoppage time of the first segment of extra time, defender Crystal Dunn spotted Rodman, 22, making a run down the right wing, and sent in a lofted through ball to her teammate’s feet to the right side of Japan’s penalty box. Rodman then performed a chop and cut inside to set herself up nicely for a left-footed finish into Japan’s upper-90.

“That was the best moment of my career,” Rodman said. “I could see (Dunn) was looking for that stretch run. I honestly think that was the only way we were going to find a goal in that game. Obviously, we had tried all game long to get in the seams and get in between them, and it wasn’t working.”

Hayes agreed it was a sensational finish but was more impressed with Rodman’s contributions outside of the goal itself.

“Of course, it was a world-class finish,” Hayes said. “And people talk about the stuff Trinity does on the ball all the time, but we should be talking about what she does off the ball: going backwards for the team, what she does as a teammate off the pitch, what she does to pay attention to all the little details."

This was Rodman’s third goal of the tournament after scoring against Zambia and Australia earlier in the group stage. She joins fellow U.S. forward Mallory Swanson in having scored three goals, tying them for third in the Golden Boot race at the Olympics. France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Zambia’s Barbra Banda are first (five) and second (four), respectively.

Rodman earned her 34th consecutive caps for the USWNT after today’s quarterfinals but hadn’t scored within her last 14 matches. Since the start of Paris 2024, she has now contributed in every match the U.S. has played in, becoming an integral part to the team’s front three alongside Swanson, 26, and Sophia Smith, 23.

The Newport Beach, California, native attributed her Games success to the team’s constant push of wanting to improve themselves on and off the pitch.

“We want to just keep improving and I think that’s what we’re doing,” Rodman said. “And being around so many players and staff that want to improve every single day is helping me be my best self, be my most confident self. I didn’t start the game the way I wanted to. I wasn’t having the best touches. To get that goal and to get that confidence back in a moment where I didn’t have it the majority of the game was good.”

The USWNT will now travel to Stade de Lyon for a rematch against Germany, who defeated Canada, 4-2, in penalties after a 0-0 draw, in the semifinals on Aug. 6 at noon ET.

The U.S. defeated Germany, 4-1, in its group-stage opener a week ago.