Megan Rapinoe scored straight from a corner as she and fellow US veteran Carli Lloyd scored double to sink Australia 4-3 in the Olympic Games bronze medal game.
Australia’s responses came from Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Emily Gielnik at the seven-goal party at Ibaraki Kashima Stadium.
However, it was 36-year-old Rapinoe and 39-year-old Lloyd who stole the show, in what could prove farewell appearances for the superstar duo.
Whether they will continue to play for the national team in the short term remains to be seen, but this was probably the last Olympics outing for both of them, and they came out in style.
Maybe it wasn’t the color we came for, but each medal means something. Dug deep and I did it pic.twitter.com/ddunHDoyBZ
– US Soccer WNT (@USWNT) August 5, 2021
Rapinoe opened the scoring in the eighth minute when his wicked corner from the left dodged everyone and found the net.
Kerr equalized seven minutes later with her 48th goal for Australia – a new record for the national team – when her shot proved too powerful for Adrianna Franch, but it was soon Rapinoe’s time again.
The stunning 2019 World Cup player scored in her second goal of this game on the fly, connecting smoothly from about 12 yards after Alanna Kennedy cut through an attempted pass.
Lloyd, who became the second-most capped player in US history with her 312nd appearance, hit the net just before half-time. His left-footed shot on goal found the right corner, putting the United States ahead 3-1.
Lloyd scored again in the 51st minute after another Kennedy mistake, this time a weak header to his goalkeeper allowing Lloyd a clear run on goal, with the striker scoring at home.
This made her the US team’s all-time top scorer in women’s Olympic football with 10 goals. Lloyd won Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, with Rapinoe also in the last triumphant team in London.
Australia returned to this game with a Foord header after 54 minutes, and Kerr headed in the left post two minutes later. Substitute Gielnik scored a delightful third place in the final for Australia but failed to find a fourth.
