Rebounding might be in her genes, but Trinity Rodman showed off her own skills of a nasty crossover dribble and a devastatingly accurate shot.
Rodman saved the United States women’s soccer team from a potentially stunningly early exit in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics by breaking a scoreless tie Saturday in the first extra-time period and providing the difference in a 1-0 victory against Japan.
The 22-year-old daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman became the youngest player to score an extra-time goal for the USA since New Jersey native Heather O’Reilly in the 2004 Olympics semifinals.
USA, which cruised through the Group stage by scoring nine total goals in three wins against Germany, Zambia and Australia, will face the Canada/Germany quarterfinal winner on Tuesday afternoon.
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It was the first Olympic match between USA and Japan since the rivals vied for the gold medal in 2012 – a 2-1 win for America behind Carli Lloyd.
One year earlier, Japan beat the USA in penalty kicks to capture the World Cup title.
Japan, which substituted more freely Saturday and showed fresher legs throughout the second half of regulation, stoppage time and extra time, had the better of chances
But it only takes one.
Rodman was barely onside, replays showed, when Crystal Dunn sent a cross-field pass into the corner.
She gathered the ball with her right foot, quickly crossed over to her left and buried a shot to the left post that the diving keeper might have grazed with her fingertips.
The goal picked up her teammate Sophia Smith, who misplayed a golden opportunity in the early moments of extra time.
She stole the ball about 30 yards from the net in the 96th minute, but instead of playing the angles and ripping a longer shot, she dribbled on the charging keeper, who made a sliding save with her knees.
It was the 13th straight win across all competitions for the Americans, who are seeking their fifth gold medal in the eight Olympics since women’s soccer was added to the competition but their first since 2012.
USA lost a quarterfinal match to Sweden in 2012 and a semifinal match to Canada in 2020, before bouncing back to beat Australia for the bronze medal.
With the game scoreless in the 35th minute, keeper Alyssa Naeher came up big, moving to her left and dropping to her knees to corral a shot from the box.
Just two minutes later, Japan kept the offensive pressure on and sailed a shot just high of the upper right-hand corner of the net.
Another big “save” for the Aermicans came in the 51st minute – but not by Naeher.
Dunn – facing her own net – cleared a crossing pass by booting it way high over the crossbar. Any less power, however, and Dunn would have flirted with a disastrous own goal.
Dunn’s other big kick was the assist on Rodman’s big winner.
A flurry of action happened in the last seconds of the four minutes of stoppage time.
Rodman was tackled in the box only feet from the keeper.
As the Americans were pleading for a penalty kick, Japan raced in the other direction and a long shot sailed just over the upper corner of the far post, when Naeher was anticipating something to the near post.