2024 Olympics: Match Day 2 Recap and Video Highlights

The second day of group stage matches in the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics was one to remember:

The USWNT had their best performances against Germany ever at an Olympics, defeating the two-time Women’s World Cup champions 4:1.
Japan had a 2:1 comeback victory against Brazil, which was capped by an awe-inspiring long-distance chip by second-half sub Momoko Tanikawa.
Canada is still in the hunt for a knock-out slot thanks to their 2:1 come-from-behind victory over host France, with the game-winning goal scored by Vanessa Gilles 12 minutes deep into second-half stoppage time.
Oh, And Australia came from three goals down in the second half to defeat Zambia 6:5!

USWNT vs. Germany

The United States Women’s National Team punched their ticket to the quarterfinals by netting four goals against Germany, while only conceding one.

This is the USA’s best result against Germany since May 2010 (a 4-nil friendly win in Cleveland, Ohio) and the best result against Germany ever at the Olympics (all previous matches had been one-goal margin-of-victories). Also, this is the first time that the USWNT has won by 3 or more goals against Germany in an official competition since the 1991 Women’s World Cup semifinals, where the USA won 5:2.

After a shaky start, the USWNT took the lead for the first time in the 10th minute from a Trinity Rodman pass that was dummied by Mal Swanson and tapped in by Sophia Smith.

Germany’s Giulia Gwinn netted an equalizer twelve minutes later after the Argentine referee Yael Falcon played advantage after Sam Coffey fouled a German attacker (Popp?) several yards outside the USA’s box. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was unable to react in time to Gwinn’s low shot which snuck just inside the bottom left corner.

The tie lasted only a few minutes until Mal Swanson opportunistically followed-up on a shot by Sophia Smith that was saved by Gotham F.C. goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, but not secured.

Then, just before half-time, Sophia Smith got her second goal of the match and the tournament thanks to a lucky deflection that looped the ball over Berger, to the far post and then bounced into the goal thanks to the clockwise spin of the ball.

Just before this goal, center-back Tierna Davidson left the match due to a “lower leg” injury. As of now, there has been clarification or update on Davidson’s situation, but she was able to walk to the locker room without assistance and did not appear to be in significant pain.

In the second half, Germany had a few chances, but the USWNT used a combination of possession and strong defending to smother any German opportunities.

In the 89th minute, substitute forward Lynn Williams slotted home an insurance goal between the diving feet of a defender and the outstretched arm of Berger.

Key Stats: The USA allowed just one German corner all match and had a 61% to 39% overall possession advantage. The USWNT also had fewer fouls (6 versus 9).

The Other Matches

The “what is happening?!” match of the day was definitely the bonkers 6:5 match between Australia and Zambia.

Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda netted a shock goal for Zambia in the first 40 seconds, but that advantage was neutralized just six minutes later via an Alanna Kennedy header from a Steph Catley corner. Banda would go to score a first-half hat-trick.

Zambia would then score four goals, including two a brace from Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji, between the 21st and 56th minutes while allowing one goal from Hayley Raso (35′).

An own goal in the 58th minute was the start of a four-goal comeback by Australia. A flubbed save on a Steph Catley free kick in the 65th minute cut the margin to one, while Catley equalized in the 78th minute from the spot. A 90th minute goal by 36-year-old Michelle Heyman was the game-winner.

The France-Canada match was scoreless until the 42nd minute, when Marie-Antoinette Katoto slotted in her third goal of the tournament, but a gritty second-half by Canada saw Jessie Fleming net an equalizer in the 58th minute. The match would stay tied for almost 45 minutes, until Vanessa Gilles pounced on a parried save by substitute goalkeeper Constance Picaud, who replaced starter Pauline Peyraud-Magnin in the 63rd minute.

Japan crushed the hearts of Brazil when Momoko Tanikawa intercepted a weakly directed pass from a Brazil defender and sublimely sent a long-distance chip into the goalmouth during the 6th minute of second-half stoppage time.

That match was scoreless until the 56th minute when half-time substitute Jheniffer finished off a fast break counter that featured a Ludmila assist and an exquisite Marta hockey assist which unlocked the opportunity.

The equalizer came via a Saki Kumagai penalty kick two minutes into second-half stoppage time. Goalkeeper Lorena was unable to make her second PK-save of the match after stopping an uninspiring spot kick from Mina Tanaka during first-half stoppage time.

In the less dramatic matches…

Spain secured their spot in the knock-out phase thanks to a long, looping free kick from Alexia Putellas in the 80th minute against Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Colombia dispatched New Zealand 2-nil with goals from Leicy Santos and Marcela Restrepo.

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For an in-depth look at advancements scenarios, see 2024 Olympics: Match Day 3 Advancement Scenarios.