Much as she did at the 2019 World Cup, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher came up big at the Olympics in the tensest of moments.
Naeher made three crucial penalty saves for the United States in its quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, one in regulation and two during a shootout, that kept the Americans alive at the Tokyo Games.
Megan Rapinoe said the soft-spoken Naeher likely wouldn’t take credit for the win, but she deserved it.
“Obviously to take a penalty from them in the run of play was huge, and then to get us two in the shootout, that just made it so easy for us, especially with them going first and taking that first one, it just takes the pressure off the team,” Rapinoe said.