During the US women’s national team’s bronze-winning game at the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday, Megan Rapinoe scored one of her most stunning goals to date.
The striker started the scoring for the US versus Australia with a corner kick that went straight into the goal.
For professional soccer players, the exceptional feat—also known as a “Olimpico” in commemoration of a goal scored by Cesáreo Onzari of Argentina in 1924—rarely, if ever, occurs.
But Rapinoe has experienced two lightning strikes. And both instances took place during the Olympic Games.
The most recent occurred Thursday night in the early hours in Tokyo, while most Americans were asleep.
The 36-year-old produced an incredible goal in just the eighth minute of the game against the Matildas, their second head-to-head contest of the Olympic competition in Tokyo.
It Made Sense for Them To Release
Rapinoe is one of several lights that didn’t shine as brightly on the way to the bronze medal as the iconic Team USA winger and her nearly as revered team were thwarted in their bid to recapture the gold medal in Tokyo.
She was at her best in the race for bronze, however, scoring an Olimpico (a goal scored immediately from a corner kick) in the ninth minute and then tucking in an erroneous Alanna Kennedy clearance in the 21st.
In a magnificent and mind-blowing start to the game, Australian star Sam Kerr scored a goal and saw another attempt at a goal saved by Adrianna Franch filling in for Rapinoe.
With this goal, Lisa De Vanna and I are no longer tied for the most goals in Australia women’s national tea history.
Conclusion
Carli Lloyd added two goals within six minutes of one another to the USWNT’s goal parade. The 39-year-old scored in first-half stoppage time to give the USWNT.
A 3-1 lead going into the break, becoming the first player in USWNT history to score in four Olympics.
In the 70th minute, Lloyd was denied a hat trick when her goal was disallowed. This was the tenth American goal to be disallowed at the Olympics.
She now leads the United States in total Olympic goals with 10, surpassing Abby Wambach in the process.
