Throwback Thursday: Carli Lloyd delivers Olympic gold

The gold medal match for soccer in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was a rematch from the 2007 Women’s World Cup semifinals. The United States Women’s National Team was looking to exact revenge against Brazil, who had pummeled them the summer before and was looking for the nation’s first gold medal in soccer.

It was a wet, rainy night in Beijing, which made field conditions less than ideal, and the result was cautious action between the two teams. Still, the action picked up on both sides. Hope Solo had the match of her life as she recorded 6 remarkable saves.

Just before the end of regulation, with the match scoreless, Amy Rodriguez had a breakaway on Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara. Rodriguez attempted to chip the ball into the net for the gamewinner, but Barbara was all over it, snuffing the chip attempt with her outstretched arm.

The match went to extra time, and there it didn’t take long for the USWNT to strike. In the 96th minute, the buildup of the play went from Lauren Holiday (neé Cheney) to Carli Lloyd, who touched it on to Amy Rodriguez. A-Rod then sped forward to play a back heel to Lloyd outside the box, who took a touch before sending a scorcher into the back of the net.

Brazil would have a couple more attempts to equalize, but they fell short. The final whistle blew and the USWNT were once again gold medal winners by a 1-0 score. With that victory, they defended their gold medal victory from 2004, and it was the 3rd overall gold for the USWNT. They would add another one in 2012.