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The Portland Thorns’ “From Portland to Paris” Olympic coverage is presented by Alaska Airlines.
In the final moments of the USA’s Olympic Semi-final against Germany, and with the prospect of a dreaded penalty shootout on the horizon, Sam Coffey found herself with the ball at her feet in the middle of the Parc Olympique Lyonnais pitch. Opening her hips, and taking a slight turn towards goal, she dribbled forward, took three touches before slipping a beautifully weighted pass forward. Sophia Smith watched the sequence unfold, lingering on the backside of Germany’s defense, waiting for her chance.
Smith received the ball, and scored one of the most important goals in the 23-year-old forward’s young career, leading the United States Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory over Germany and giving her team a chance to compete for a Gold Medal.
For Portland Thorns fans who have had the pleasure of watching Coffey and Smith perform week-in and week-out for years now, this moment solidified what they already knew, this duo was built for moments like this.
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Smith has proven herself to be unstoppable in the attack, contributing to goals in each of the United States’ five games (three goals and two assists), a feat only three other athletes have achieved at these games, including Barba Banda, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and her fellow countrymen, Mallory Swanson.
Meanwhile, Coffey has become a vital piece of the midfield under the leadership of USWNT manager Emma Hayes, with the team only conceding two goals during her time on the pitch, contributing to a plus eight goal differential in the matches she's started.
Thorns players shining in Olympic tournaments is nothing new, in fact the last time the United States won an Olympic semifinal match, Portland captain Christine Sinclair netted a hat trick. That same match saw a stoppage-time goal in extra time from forward Alex Morgan, another future member of the Portland Thorns, to force the game into penalties where the USA would eventually take the 3-4 advantage.
In the 2016 Olympic Games, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give Canada the Bronze Medal for a 2-1 win over Brazil. And at the 2020 Olympic Games, Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming scored against the United States in the semifinal to clinch a spot in Canada’s first-ever Gold Medal match before netting a penalty kick in the final.
Smith’s goal against Germany is just another in a historic line of moments made possible by Portland Thorns athletes. Portland fans will hope this continues as the United States look to win Gold on Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m. PT against Brazil.
The Portland Thorns’ “From Portland to Paris” Olympic coverage is presented by Alaska Airlines.
In the final moments of the USA’s Olympic Semi-final against Germany, and with the prospect of a dreaded penalty shootout on the horizon, Sam Coffey found herself with the ball at her feet in the middle of the Parc Olympique Lyonnais pitch. Opening her hips, and taking a slight turn towards goal, she dribbled forward, took three touches before slipping a beautifully weighted pass forward. Sophia Smith watched the sequence unfold, lingering on the backside of Germany’s defense, waiting for her chance.
Smith received the ball, and scored one of the most important goals in the 23-year-old forward’s young career, leading the United States Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory over Germany and giving her team a chance to compete for a Gold Medal.
For Portland Thorns fans who have had the pleasure of watching Coffey and Smith perform week-in and week-out for years now, this moment solidified what they already knew, this duo was built for moments like this.
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Smith has proven herself to be unstoppable in the attack, contributing to goals in each of the United States’ five games (three goals and two assists), a feat only three other athletes have achieved at these games, including Barba Banda, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and her fellow countrymen, Mallory Swanson.
Meanwhile, Coffey has become a vital piece of the midfield under the leadership of USWNT manager Emma Hayes, with the team only conceding two goals during her time on the pitch, contributing to a plus eight goal differential in the matches she's started.
Thorns players shining in Olympic tournaments is nothing new, in fact the last time the United States won an Olympic semifinal match, Portland captain Christine Sinclair netted a hat trick. That same match saw a stoppage-time goal in extra time from forward Alex Morgan, another future member of the Portland Thorns, to force the game into penalties where the USA would eventually take the 3-4 advantage.
In the 2016 Olympic Games, Sinclair scored the game-winning goal in the 52nd minute to give Canada the Bronze Medal for a 2-1 win over Brazil. And at the 2020 Olympic Games, Thorns midfielder Jessie Fleming scored against the United States in the semifinal to clinch a spot in Canada’s first-ever Gold Medal match before netting a penalty kick in the final.
Smith’s goal against Germany is just another in a historic line of moments made possible by Portland Thorns athletes. Portland fans will hope this continues as the United States look to win Gold on Saturday, August 10 at 8:00 a.m. PT against Brazil.
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