USWNT vs. Japan score, result: Trinity Rodman rescues dull USA showing with extra-time winner in Olympic quarterfinal

Kyle Bonn

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USWNT vs. Japan score, result: Trinity Rodman rescues dull USA showing with extra-time winner in Olympic quarterfinal image

With a perfect group stage performance in the rearview mirror, all the problems for the U.S. women's national team from last summer's World Cup seemed to return in Saturday's Olympic quarterfinal against Japan.

The USWNT found themselves pushed to extra time after a scoreless showing in regulation at the 2024 Paris Games, and the attack had managed just a single shot on target through the first 90 minutes. Emma Hayes kept the faith, deciding not to make a single substitution until the start of extra-time.

Then Trinity Rodman decided she’d had enough.

The USWNT star scored a stunning solo goal just before the break in extra time to put her squad into the Olympic semifinals with a gritty 1-0 victory. Her third goal of the Olympics kept the USWNT’s medal hopes alive.

Japan opened the match in a defensive low block, and it troubled the U.S. front line throughout the match. They displayed a solid structure, forcing the U.S. attack centrally and baiting the United States midfield into passes that weren’t there.

Hayes received significant criticism throughout the match for the slow U.S. front line and lack of substitutions, but Rodman’s goal will have her vindicated for sticking to the plan in what felt like an increasingly desperate situation.

The United States will meet either Canada or Germany in Tuesday's semifinals, while Japan are eliminated from the competition.

The match brought an injury scare for the USWNT, as right-back Emily Fox went off in tears just minutes from the finish with what appeared to be an ankle injury. Her fitness will need to be assessed moving forward in a compact tournament that features just two days between games.

The Sporting News followed the USA vs. Japan women's soccer match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happened.

USWNT vs. Japan final score

 ScoreGoal scorers
USA1Rodman (105+2')
Japan0–

Kickoff: 3 p.m. local (9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT)
Location: Parc des Princes (Paris, France)
Referee: Tess Olofsson (SWE)

Starting lineups:

USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Naeher (GK) — 2. Fox (Krueger, 120'), 4.  Girma, 14. Sonnett, 7. Dunn — 10. Horan, 3. Albert, 16. Lavelle (Nighswonger, 106') — 5. Rodman, 11. S. Smith, 9. Swanson (L. Williams, 91').

Japan (3-4-3, right to left): 1. Yamashita (GK) — 6. Koga (Takahashi, 91'), 4. Kumagai, 3. Minami — 20. Moriya, 10. Nagano, 14. Hasegawa (Hayashi, 106'), 13. Kitagawa — 8. Seike (Hamano, 46'), 11. Tanaka (Ueki, 70'), 15. Fujino (Miyazawa, 81').

USWNT vs. Japan live updates, highlights from 2024 Olympics

FULLTIME: USA 1-0 Japan

It was far from pretty, but Trinity Rodman's late goal is enough to send the United States through to the semifinals of the 2024 Olympics!

The attack looked stifled for most of the match, but Rodman saved them with a moment of brilliance. Japan gave it a real run with their defensive approach, but it didn't quite last the 120 minutes.

118th min: Much to the USWNT's delight, they've been comfortable in defending Japan's desperate attacking push. Emily Fox is down for treatment, walking very gingerly on what looks like a nasty right ankle injury, and she'll be replaced by Casey Krueger for the remaining few minutes.

109th min: The USWNT are in a mid-block as Japan are pushing for a desperate equalizer. All 11 U.S. players are having to do a significant amount of defending, as you might imagine.

2nd half kickoff of extra-time: With the goal so late before the halftime break, both sides now make the necessary substitutions to change things up. Emma Hayes brings Jenna Nighswonger into the match to replace Rose Lavelle, and she enters the midfield where she has played before collegiately, helping to shore up the defensive structure.

Japan bring Honoka Hayashi on for Yui Hasegawa in a desperate attempt to inject more attack into their lineup.

HALFTIME OF EXTRA-TIME: USA 1-0 Japan

This game felt for all the world like it was headed to a penalty shootout, but Trinity Rodman gave the U.S. a massive lift! Japan will have to open themselves up for the final 15 minutes, so this one is far from over, but what a moment that is for the 22-year-old!

105+2 min: GOAL! USA! FINALLY, THERE'S THE BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE UNITED STATES, AND IT'S TRINITY RODMAN WITH A STUNNER!

Rodman does it all on her own, as she smokes a defender near the end line, cut the ball onto her left foot, and floated it perfectly into the top-left corner past the goalkeeper! A stunning move and perfect finish!

There's a quick VAR check to make sure Rodman wasn't offside and didn't use her hand or arm to control the ball, but it stands and the U.S. are in front!

101st min: Alyssa Naeher has her first real big moment of influence on the match as she comes out to punch a very dangerous deep cross into the penalty area! It was destined for the head of a Japan forward who found space between the U.S. defenders!

99th min: There's a real concern for the United States as Korbin Albert is down on the opposite end of the pitch and needs treatment. This would be a big blow for the U.S. as they are extremely thin in midfield. They do not have a defensive midfielder who can play in the No. 6 position — if she needs to come off, they'd likely bring in Emily Sams at center-back to push Emily Sonnett into midfield.

96th min: Chance, USA! Sophia Smith has the best chance for the United States yet as she gets free down the right, but her shot from a very tight angle is closed down very well by Japan goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, who does well to come off her line! It clips Smith on the way out, so the U.S. doesn't even get a corner out of it.

95th min: Chance, Japan! The USWNT defense fails to clear a Japan counter-attack on three separate occasions, and it gives Hinata Miyazawa a look on goal from a tight angle, but she fires it into the side netting!

Extra-time kickoff: Emma Hayes has finally made her first substitution, as Lynn Williams will replace Mallory Swanson up front. It's a good change as Swanson was quiet for much of today's game.

Japan also make an alteration, this time at the back as Toko Koga is withdrawn for Hana Takahashi.

END OF REGULATION: USA 0-0 Japan

It's an incredibly disappointing 90 minutes from the United States, who now must navigate 30 minutes of extra time. Emma Hayes has not made a single substitution, which is shocking considering how slow and labored the USWNT were through that half.

This is not the same scoreless draw as they played to against Costa Rica in the pre-Olympic warmups, where they took 26 shots. The USWNT finished this 90 minutes with just nine total shots, and one on target.

90+4 min: Chance, USA! Finally, the USWNT shows some sense of urgency through the four minutes of stoppage time, and Trinity Rodman goes down in the penalty area after latching onto a vertical ball but the referee says play on! There's a slight block from the Japan defender, but the referee made the correct call.

90th min: The USWNT has a free-kick that falls to Trinity Rodman on the penalty spot, but her volley in a dangerous position is blocked by a defender before it can trouble the goalkeeper.

Four minutes of added time are shown.

85th min: It's just not happening for the U.S. women who continue to struggle against Japan's low block. This feels heading to extra-time, which at this rate will be just another half-hour of suffer ball.

81st min: Another change for Japan as Hinata Miyazawa comes on for Aoba Fujino, meaning they have swapped out their entire attacking front line. STILL no changes for Emma Hayes and the United States as the head coach passes on some tactical notes to Sophia Smith, but a late drinks break allows them to talk it out in more detail.

77th min: Trinity Rodman is blatantly fouled by Riko Ueki on the wing but the referee lets play continue. The way this game is going, the U.S. needs those calls to go their way so they can create opportunities from dead ball situations.

70th min: After a few short corners, the U.S. take it long, and it pops out to Mallory Swanson for a difficult volley, but the ball bounces higher than she anticipated and the shot is blasted to the moon.

Japan bring on Kiko Ueki to replace Mina Tanaka up front, as the latter has done some serious running off the ball as the only Japan player pressing. Still no changes for Emma Hayes and the United States.

62nd min: Chance, USA! Sophia Smith has the best chance to get the U.S. in front, forcing some last-ditch defending as she presses a back-pass on the penalty spot, but it's barely cleared by Toko Koga at the last possible moment! A positive sign after an hour of almost nothing to cheer for?

60th min: A good combination by Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman get the U.S. out in transition but Rodman's entry feed is blocked off in yet another moment where the USWNT buildup is baited into attempting a pass which isn't actually there.

56th min: The U.S. finally get Trinity Rodman on the ball down the right flank and she appears to win a corner but the flag is up for offside. Replay shows if that resulted in a goal, it might have been overturned, because it looked like Rodman was indeed onside.

Shortly after, Emily Sonnett is booked for a foul in transition, the first yellow card of the match to either side.

50th min: Chance, Japan! A wonderful combination on the right edge of the penalty area gets Miyabi Moriya free vertically, and her cross is extremely dangerous along the face of goal, but Crystal Dunn awkwardly clears it with a nervy slide towards her own goal.

It wins Japan a corner which somehow squirts through the entirety of the pack but is sent way wide by an errant Aoba Fujino shot.

2nd half kickoff: There are no changes for Emma Hayes as the second half gets under way, and the United States will continue along with its starting XI despite creating very little with their first half possessional advantage.

Japan, meanwhile, make a change as Maika Hamano enters the fray to replace Kiko Seike. Hayes is very familiar with the young midfielder, as the 20-year-old plays for her old club Chelsea.

HALFTIME: USA 0-0 Japan

A dull and uninspiring first 45 minutes which saw the United States dominate possession to a significant degree but do very little with it. Japan had the two best chances of the half, while the United States created next to nothing in the attacking third.

Japan has tactically forced the USWNT to central areas, denying the likes of Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith the ball out wide. It's worked, as Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle have not been good enough passing their way through Japan's low block. In fact, they're being baited into low-percentage passes that the opponent wants them to play.

Changes are needed, but Emma Hayes has been consistent to a fault this tournament. Jaedyn Shaw is an option off the bench and can possibly do Rose Lavelle's job better given the tactical situation.

37th min: Chance, Japan! They've got another big look on goal, but Miyabi Moriya blasts a volley over the crossbar! Crystal Dunn's acrobatic bicycle-kick touch kept Japan from having a two-on-none opportunity, and then Moriya tries for the spectacular and misses. The momentum seems to be shifting a little as the United States look a little shaky at the back!

34th min: Chance, Japan! Despite their overwhelming possessional disadvantage, Japan have the game's first real look on goal! Mina Tanaka, who has just signed for NWSL side Utah Royals, cuts onto her right inside the top of the penalty area and rips one on net, but her low shot takes a bounce right into the arms of Alyssa Naeher. A strong build-up but a poor finish!

27th min: Emily Fox is whistled for a foul just inches outside the penalty area to give Japan a dangerous set-piece opportunity from a lateral area near the end line. The NC Courage full-back is in disbelief but it's the right call. The U.S. defend it well enough to get the ball out of danger, but it's given Japan a bit of life.

24th min: The USWNT is up to 82 percent possession, but they have yet to create any more attacking moments. Every time the U.S. has an opening and charges into space, Japan self-heal their shape and orientation with surprising speed. It's been an impressive defensive shape from Japan which has ground this game to a halt.

Japan finally open themselves up for a counter-attack, which allows the U.S. to respond in kind, but Mallory Swanson crosses along the six-yard box to nobody in support. Emma Hayes takes off her jacket in frustration.

16th min: Through the opening 15 minutes, the USWNT has dominated the match. They have yet to create any serious goal scoring chances, but they've held nearly 75% possession and are keeping Japan's counter-attack to a whimper. It feels inevitable should this continue, but the U.S. will need to be a little sharper in the attacking third to find the opener.

9th min: Mallory Swanson is down for a moment after her foot is stepped on while reaching a 50-50 ball. Swanson appears to be fine, down more to make a point to the official than anything else, having gotten to the ball first and being spiked for her efforts, but not getting the call.

6th min: The U.S. gets its first sight of the Japan goal as Emily Sonnett feeds a deep ball to Lindsey Horan at the far post, but her header is weak and straight at the goalkeeper, and she was offside on the play as well anyways. A good sign for the United States who are on the front foot to start the match, but not quite sharp enough to prove dangerous.

2nd min: We're in the very early stages of this match, but already Lindsey Horan has given the ball away cheaply after dribbling herself into trouble. She looked sloppy in the finale against Australia, and the U.S. will need her to improve significantly if they want to secure a medal at this unforgiving tournament.

Kickoff: They're under way in the French capital! The U.S. women dominated in the group stage, but all that is a wash now as they must not falter if they wish to win an Olympic medal and return to global prominence.

Parc des Princes is packed to the gills.

USWNT vs. Japan: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: The U.S. women have won 11 straight matches in France, dating back to the start of the 2019 Women's World Cup. Two of their victories in 2019 came here at Parc des Princes, and it's the home stadium of PSG midfielder Korbin Albert at the club level.

They'll want to channel that historical success to turn things around at this venue after the U.S. men fell hard in this stadium just yesterday against French-speaking nation Morocco. The African nation, sporting PSG star Achraf Hakimi, had a massive home-field advantage during yesterday's match, but it's not likely that Japan will enjoy the same vociferous support today.

30 mins to kickoff: Injuries take their toll in any major tournament, but it's having a knock-down effect for the U.S. today. With Tierna Davidson out, it forces Emily Sonnett into a deputy role at center-back. Sonnett would normally have been the one to replace a suspended Sam Coffey in midfield, but instead, Sonnett has to play along the back, meaning Korbin Albert sees time.

After Albert scored a banger for her debut international goal against Australia, she gets the start here and will have a big chance to change the narrative around her national team service so far.

45 mins to kickoff: Incredibly, Japan head coach Futoshi Ikeda has made FIVE alterations to the starting lineup from the final group match against Nigeria, which is a hefty amount for a major tournament knockout match.

Emma Hayes has been defiant against suggestions that she should rotate her squad in any kind of way this tournament, pushing back against questions about her use of Sam Coffey in the final group match where she was suspended. Ikeda, meanwhile, has chopped and changed this entire Olympic tournament and does so to the extreme here.

1 hour to kickoff: The lineups are in, and it's just as we expected for the United States. Korbin Albert starts for the suspended Sam Coffey, while Emily Sonnett continues along the back line in place of the injured Tierna Davidson. Nothing else changes for Emma Hayes who defiantly pushed back against suggestions of squad rotation at any point in this tournament.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: While lineups have not yet been announced, U.S. Soccer has revealed that Jaedyn Shaw has proven fit to return to the matchday squad after missing the group stage with a leg injury suffered in pre-tournament training. Yet Tierna Davidson has not recovered from the knee contusion she suffered in the second match, so alternate Emily Sams remains in the squad.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: This will be the second meeting between the U.S. women and Japan just this calendar year. They met on April 6 in the semifinals of the SheBelieves Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the United States winning 2-1 in come-from-behind fashion in front of the largest domestic USWNT crowd since the 1999 Women's World Cup final.

The Japan women has only beaten the United States once, coming in the 2012 Algarve Cup. However, they did win the 2012 Women's World Cup final against the USWNT, triumphing on a penalty shootout after what officially goes down as a 2-2 draw.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: The U.S. women will go with their whites again today, which they've worn in every Olympics match to this point.

2 hours to kickoff: The front three of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman have carried the United States to this point, scoring seven of their eight goals in the Olympics thus far and 14 of 16 since Emma Hayes took over. It has all three players in the mix for the tournament's top goal scorer award, as they chase Marie-Antoinette Katoto of France.

The attacking onslaught represents a stunning turnaround under new head coach Emma Hayes, after the U.S. had massive issues getting the attacking unit involved at last summer's Women's World Cup.

USWNT vs. Japan kickoff time

This quarterfinal match from the 2024 Summer Olympics kicks off from Parc des Princes on Saturday, August 3 at 3 p.m. local time in Paris, France. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

 DateKickoff time
USA/CanadaSat, Aug. 39 a.m. ET
USA/CanadaSat, Aug. 36 a.m. PT
UKSat, Aug. 32 p.m. BST
AustraliaSat, Aug. 311 p.m. AEST
IndiaSat, Aug. 36:30 p.m. IST

UWNT vs. Japan lineups, team news, starting 11

Emma Hayes said she will give as much recovery time as possible for injured duo Tierna Davidson and Jaedyn Shaw to pass fit, and that has helped Shaw return to the squad after missing out on the entire group stage with a leg injury. Thus, Croix Bethune returns to the alternate list, although Emily Sams remains as Davidson is still sidelined.

The U.S. also will be without midfield anchor Sam Coffey, who triggered a suspension for yellow card accumulation with an early booking in the group finale against Australia. That likely means Korbin Albert will be starting in midfield, having scored a banger last time out. Because Coffey cannot be replaced on the roster, the U.S. can only have six players on the bench.

USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Dunn — Horan, Albert, Lavelle — Rodman, S. Smith, Swanson.

USA subs (6): Murphy (GK), Sams, Krueger, Nighswonger, Shaw, L. Williams.

Japan are without Angel City forward Jun Endo, who continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered earlier this year.

Head coach Futoshi Ikeda has made significant changes to his XI for this match against the United States, with an incredible seven alterations, a massive amount for a major competition. Kiko Seike, who has not started since being hooked at halftime of their opener against Spain, is brought back in up front alongside new addition Aoba Fujino. Two of the starting three center-backs have also been swapped, as anchor Saki Kumagai is the only consistent presence.

In midfield, Yui Hasegawa of Man City remains, but Fuka Nagano and Hikaru Kitagawa enter the XI.

Japan starting lineup (3-4-3): Yamashita (GK) — Koga, Kumagai, Minami — Moriya, Nagano, Hasegawa, Kitagawa — Seike, Tanaka, Fujino.

Japan subs (7): Ohba (GK), Takahashi, Miyazawa, Hayashi, Chiba, Hamano, Ueki.

USWNT vs. Japan live stream, TV channel

 TV ChannelStreaming
USATelemundoFubo USA, Peacock
UK discovery+
Australia —Stan Sport, 9Now
Canada —CBS Sports app/website
India — —

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Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.