<p>The USWNT team advanced to the semifinals of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/olympics-soccer-schedule-and-tv-guide/">2024 Olympic</a> Games</p>



<p> with a win over Japan on Saturday. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/uswnt-tv-schedule/">Team USA</a> fought a tough low defensive block from their opponents through the entirety of the game. While the two sides were scoreless after 90 minutes, Trinity Rodman spared her team’s blushes with a glorious strike late in the match.</p>



<p>Rodman began the play in the 105th minute by collecting a long pass out on the right flank. The 22-year-old attacker then beat her defender by cutting back inside to put the ball on her preferred left foot. She then struck a stunning arrowing shot past the diving goalkeeper and into the top far corner of the net. It would have been tough for any shot-stopper to prevent that goal.</p>



<p>There were immediate claims that Rodman both handled the ball and was offside prior to scoring the goal. Nevertheless, replays suggested that the forward controlled the ball with her chest. Semi-automated replay technology then showed that the American was onside by just a few centimeters.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">USA SCORES! TRINITY RODMAN, WHAT A GOAL 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸<a href="https://t.co/Gy8DEL531L">pic.twitter.com/Gy8DEL531L</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1819754642923720715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2024</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h2>Young forward has been USWNT’s star player at Olympics</h2>



<p>Rodman has arguably been the best USWNT player at the tournament in France. The attacker entered the competition having scored just two goals in her previous 17 matches with the national team. However, the <a href="https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/trinity-rodman/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington Spirit</a> star’s goal against Japan was her third in the current competition. Rodman previously scored the opening goals for the Americans against Zambia and Australia in the group stage.</p>



<p>Before Rodman eventually found the back of the net, the Americans were noticeably frustrated by the Japanese defense. The USWNT entered the match as the highest scoring team in the tournament. In fact, they managed to score nine goals in their three group stage goals.</p>



<p>However, although they did strategically move forward at times, Japan remained defensively organized throughout the game. This was evident in the lack of real scoring chances for the Americans in regular time. The USWNT recorded just three total shots in the first half. They did manage to take six additional chances at goal in the latter period, but none of these efforts were on target.</p>



<h2>Coach leaves fans perplexed by lack of substitutions</h2>



<p>Outside of Rodman’s stunning goal, much of the discussion regarding the USWNT in the match was the lack of substitutions by Emma Hayes. For instance, the new manager did not make a single change to her lineup in regular time. This was although Japan seemed fresher late in the game. </p>



<p>The first American sub was Lynn Williams, who entered the fray for Mallory Swanson to start extra time. Former USWNT great, and current NBC Sports commentator, Julie Foudy, labeled the lack of substitutions as a risky move during the telecast.</p>



<p>The USWNT will next take on Germany in the semifinals on Tuesday, August 6th. Incredibly, the team will face Germany in a major tournament semifinal for the fifth time.</p>



<p>They will, however, worry about Emily Fox’s fitness. The defender was forced off of the pitch in the final moments after a collision with an opposing player. Fox was able to walk away without much of a limp though.</p>



<p>Photo credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC</p>

Rodman's stunner propels USWNT into Olympic semifinals

Trinity Rodman scored a stunning extra-time goal to take the USWNT to the semifinals of the Paris Olympic games


<p>The United States Women’s National Team played its first game of 2023 down under, picking up a comfortable win over New Zealand, 4-0. The Football Ferns are co-hosts of the 2023 Women’s World Cup with Australia. Therefore, it was a sensible friendly for both involved.</p>



<p>Then, for much of the first half, New Zealand did well to contain a heavily favored USWNT. A scoreless first 45 likely frustrated manager Vlatko Andonovski, who then made four substitutions up and down the pitch. The result paid off immediately.</p>



<p>Mallory Swanson opened the scoring with one of the halftime substitutes, Trinity Rodman, providing the cross. It was Swanson’s 26th goal in the red, white and blue. However, it was her first under her married name. She scored the previous 25 as a perhaps more familiar Mallory Pugh.</p>



<p>Alex Morgan put the game to bed not long after. In the 60th minute, Rose Lavelle played a backheel pass into the box for Morgan, who lashed the ball to the far post to beat New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Nayler. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rose Lavelle with the backheel assist to Alex Morgan 😮‍💨 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/4MVxSdFtF9">pic.twitter.com/4MVxSdFtF9</a></p>— B/R Football (@brfootball) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/brfootball/status/1615567552452726791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Swanson went ahead and picked up her brace just two minutes after Morgan’s goal. The Chicago Red Stars forward was through on goal, dribbled around Nayler, and tucked the ball away. Then, the USWNT added a fourth as Lynn Williams scored off another Trinity Rodman cross.</p>



<h2>USWNT starts big 2023 off with win over New Zealand</h2>



<p>While New Zealand is hopeful to make noise at its own World Cup, it is not exactly the powerhouse among the favorites to win that World Cup. If you put any stock in the <a href="https:\/\/www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/women?dateId=ranking_20221209" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FIFA Women’s World Rankings</a>, New Zealand is 24th, while the USWNT is top. Comparing that to the <a href="https:\/\/www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13869" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">men’s list</a>, that is Brazil against Iran. </p>



<p>However, this game, as well as the next friendly also against New Zealand, provide opportunities to those looking to break into Andonovski’s side. </p>



<p>For example, Trinity Rodman picked up a pair of assists, her first assists with the USWNT. Taylor Kornieck made her first career start for the side, even if it was her sixth cap overall. </p>



<p>Also, for the broadcasting side, this was <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/tv/us-soccer-national-team-to-make-hbo-max-debut-in-january-20221202-WST-410783.html">HBO Max’s first game</a> of its <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-announce-new-tv-deal-turner-sports-20220301-CMS-373327.html">new deal with US Soccer</a>. The next game for the USWNT, set for Friday night, is airing on TNT.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo</em></p>


The USWNT used a four-goal second half to pull away from New Zealand in its first game of what should be a massive 2023.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "trinity rodman"

Paris 2024 Olympics

Rodman's stunner propels USWNT into Olympic semifinals

New Zealand

USWNT rides second-half surge to defeat New Zealand