Women's Olympics Soccer Predictions: USA vs. Australia Bronze Medal Game
Women's Olympics Soccer Predictions: USA vs. Australia Bronze Medal Game
USA Women’s Olympic Soccer Picks: USA vs. Australia Prediction
Though disappointing for the USA Women's soccer team to not be playing for gold this year, there is still a medal on the line against Australia on Thursday. It has been a rough go for this elite group of women as they barely escaped a quarterfinal scare against the Netherlands. The USWNT kicked off the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Sweden, snapping a 44-game unbeaten streak. This defeat was a sign of things to come for this USA women's soccer team
The defending World Champs are still looking to medal in these Olympics as they prepare for their bronze medal game clash with Australia. Team USA has participated in every Olympic tournament since 1996 and reached the gold medal game in each until 2016 when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals on a penalty shootout loss to rival Sweden.
In a stunning defeat, the USA was knocked out by Canada in a 1-0 loss in their semifinal Monday. Jessie Fleming of Canada was awarded a penalty through VAR and netted it in the second half; in the 75th minute, that was the difference. The USWNT now has failed to reach the final for the second straight Olympic games. The USA team had not been beaten by Canada in any capacity in over 20 years to put their dominance into perspective. It was only the fourth time in 62 games Canada triumphed their neighbors to the South. USA did not quite show their usual dominance of possession in that game, but they peppered Canadian goalie Stephanie Labbe with 17 total shots and six on goal compared to just the five shots and two on the net by Canada.
Canada advances to their first-ever gold medal final and plays Sweden on Friday.
Setting up the bronze medal game in this year’s Olympics we have the world ranked No. 1 USA vs. No. 9 Australia predictions and picks
How to watch USA vs. Australia
Date: Thursday, August 5
Time: 4:00 AM ET
Where to watch: NBCSN
The USWNT has played Australia 30 times, with three previous meetings at world championship events. The sides drew 0-0 on July 27th during the group stage. Shockingly Australia dominated possession 65% with more shots taken, 10, than the USA's eight total shots. Alex Morgan scored but had it disallowed by VAR in that game. In team USA's other most recent game that was not a friendly, it was a 3-1 win in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Megan Rapinoe scored twice, and Christen Press got the third goal
For Australia, they were defeated by Sweden in a controversial game 1-0. VAR had a goal ruled out in the 42nd minute, and their star defensive leader Ellie Carpenter was sent off with a red card in the 95th minute. This red card leaves her out of the bronze medal game.
The USWNT has been in average form, but with the huge loss of Carpenter on the back end and a medal on the line, I see them ramping things up and beating this feisty Australia side.