Trinity Rodman’s 'bit of magic' sends US into Olympic soccer semifinals with 1-0 win over Japan

PARIS (AP) — Mallory Swanson says Trinity Rodman gave the United States a bit of magic when the team needed it most.

Rodman scored in extra time and the United States advanced to the women's soccer semifinals at the Paris Olympics with a 1-0 victory over Japan on Saturday.

“Ultimately in games like this, sometimes it just takes a little bit of magic, and little bit of individual brilliance, and that's what Trin did,” Swanson said.

The United States will face Germany in a semifinal match in Lyon on Tuesday. The 2016 Olympics champion Germany advanced on penalties after a scoreless draw with Canada in Marseille. The U.S. beat Germany 4-1 in the group stage.

The U.S. is guaranteed two more matches in France: Get through the semis with a win and it's on to the gold medal match; lose and there's still the bronze up for grabs.

The U.S. went into the knockout match undefeated and outscoring opponents 9-2 at the Paris Games under new coach Emma Hayes but Japan foiled the Americans with steady defense.

Rodman's goal to the top of the far post came as time in stoppage time in the first extra period. She fell to the field as she was embraced by her teammates in celebration.

"I kind of blacked out," Rodman said with a laugh when asked to describe the goal. “That's like the best moment in my career.”

It was Rodman's third goal of the tournament. She nearly scored again in the second extra period.

“I keep saying this but we want to just keep improving and I think that's what we're doing,” she said. “Being around so many players and staff that want to improve every single day is helping me be my best self and my most confident self.”

Afterward, several of the Japanese players collapsed on the field in tears. U.S. captain Lindsey Horan embraced Riko Ueki.

Former U.S. women’s national team stars Megan Rapinoe and Mia Hamm, as well as rapper Snoop Dogg, were among the fans at a packed Parc des Princes.

Rapinoe and Hamm celebrated wildly together in the stands along with U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone when Rodman scored.

“It’s not always flashy,” Hayes said about the tense match. “It’s not always what fans want to see, but this is football, and football requires different tactical abilities from game to game. We played the right game for the right opponent.”

Hayes, the former boss at Chelsea, was hired last fall to lead the Americans after they struggled at last summer’s Women’s World Cup and were eliminated from the tournament earlier than ever before.

Japan had two good chances in quick succession in the first half. Mina Tanaka’s attempt was smothered by U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher before Miyabi Moriya blasted a shot from about 12 yards that went over the goal.

“They’re exceptional,” Hayes said about Japan. “Their block is the best in the world at doing that, in terms of the way they shift, the way they step, the way they read the rotations. They work their socks off.”

Swanson, who also has three goals in the tournament, had the best opportunities for the United States in the second half. But the U.S. was uncharacteristically plagued with errant passes and missed opportunities.

Rodman’s blast after a free kick in the 90th minute bounced off of a Japanese defender and was cleared away.

It was a tight match between familiar opponents. Japan defeated the United States in the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup. The next year, the Americans beat Japan in the 2012 Olympic final for the gold. The title in London would be the last of a record four gold medals for the United States in the Olympics.

The Americans won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games after a loss to Canada in the semifinals. Japan fell on home soil to Sweden in the quarterfinals at the COVID-delayed tournament.

The United States also defeated Japan at the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Carli Lloyd scored three goals within the first 16 minutes and the U.S. went on to win 5-2.

The United States made one change to its starting lineup for the team’s quarterfinal match against Japan in Paris. Korbin Albert replaced Sam Coffey in the midfield. Coffey was ineligible for the game because of yellow card accumulation.

The U.S. also made forward Jaedyn Shaw available after she missed the first three games with a leg injury.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Sophia Smith of the United States chases the ball during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States reacts after missing a chance during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States takes a shot during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Sophia Smith, left, and Trinity Rodman of the United States celebrate after winning 1-0 the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Rose Levelle of the United States gets away from Japan's Yui Hasegawa during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States, top, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Japan's head coach Futoshi Ikeda, left and head coach Emma Hayes of the United States stand in the technical zone on the touchline during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

For US soccer player Megan Rapinoe adjusts her cap as she waits for the start of the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Japan's Aoba Fujino chases as Crystal Dunn of the United States clears the ball during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Japan's Saki Kumagai holds off Trinity Rodman of the United States during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States, top, celebrates with Emily Fox after scoring the opening goal during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States, top, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Trinity Rodman of the United States, right, scores the opening goal during the quarterfinal women's soccer match between the United States and the Japan at the Parc des Princes at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jose Tena had two hits including a home run, Patrick Corbin pitched six innings and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Saturday.

Joey Gallo and Juan Yepez also homered for Washington, which has won three of four, and Keibert Ruiz had two hits.

Corbin (6-13) allowed a run on three hits with a walk and six strikeouts. He didn't allow a hit after the second inning and retired 13 of his last 15 batters. Corbin has won four of his past five starts, two of them against the Marlins, and has lowered his ERA by nearly half a run to 5.45.

“I think I've just kind of located a lot better, have gotten some more strikeouts which helps, keeps the ball out of the infield or out of the outfield where they can get hits,” Corbin said. “Not walking as many guys. Just a combination of all that and locating fastball and not really getting beat on that pitch as much."

Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his 38th save, third most in the majors.

Otto Lopez had two hits and the lone RBI for the Marlins, who have lost five of six.

Miami starter Valente Bellozo (2-4) gave up three runs on six hits — two of them homers — over 5 1/3 innings.

“I thought he was good,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Bellozo. “Lot of strikes. Kept us in the game. The solo home run we can always live with. It's the walks and that type of thing that gets us trouble but I thought he didn't do any of that. He did really well."

Gallo tied the score 1-1 in the bottom of the second when he sent a 2-0 Bellozo pitch into the second deck in right.

Washington took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Tena singled, stole second and scored on Ruiz's single over the first-base bag.

Tena made it 3-1 with one-out home run in the sixth, ending Bellozo's day.

“He’s a very, very good player overall, but a very good hitter,” Gallo said of Tena. “To hit that ball out ... it was like a curveball down and away and he’s able to hit it out to right center.”

Tena, 23, is 13-for-36 (.361) in his past nine games, hitting safely in eight of them. Since joining the Nationals on Aug. 10 from Triple-A Rochester he leads the team with 12 multi-hit games.

Yepez homered in the eighth.

The youthful Nationals are last in the National League with 125 homers in 148 games.

“We're hoping that some of these guys as they get more mature will be able to drive the ball a little bit more consistently,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Right now it's just about working good at-bats, trying not to chase, teaching them how to get the ball in the zone more than anything.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is slated to throw live batting practice Tuesday in Miami.

Nationals: SS CJ Abrams missed his second straight game with a sore left shoulder.

UP NEXT

Miami RHP Adam Oller (1-3, 5.40 ERA) opposes Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-12, 4.34), who allowed one run on one hit in six innings against the Marlins on Sept. 4, to close the series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Valente Bellozo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Miami Marlins' Jonah Bride runs towards home to score a run on a single by Otto Lopez during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals' Joey Gallo celebrates his home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals' Juan Yepez takes a lead from first base during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez leaps for a ball that went for a single by Miami Marlins' Javier Sanoja during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez blows a bubble as he stands on the field during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)