sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Megan Rapinoe Scores Directly From A Corner Against Australia At Tokyo Olympics

Megan Rapinoe Scores Directly From A Corner Against Australia At Tokyo Olympics

Audacious effort from the USA forward.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

USA forward Megan Rapinoe has scored directly from a corner-kick against Australia in an action-packed women's football bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 36-year-old gave her country a deserved lead with just eight minutes on the clock.

Rapinoe whipped in a dangerous ball to the back post and, after goalkeeper Teagan Jade Micah fumbled the cross, many were surprised to see it find the back of the net. Did she mean it? You decide.


USA continued to dominate in the early stages but after a rare attack, Australia hit back in the first-half when a defensive mistake allowed Caitlin Foord a simple pass to Sam Kerr, who finished superbly.

That being said, the Americans regained the lead just four minutes later when Rapinoe whacked a first-time volley into the back of the net after another poor piece of defending.

That's some hit.

It has been a tough week for Rapinoe and her US teammates, who were knocked out of the Tokyo Olympics by Canada at the semi-final stage after a 74th-minute winner from Jessie Fleming.

"If I could just say something, I just think the players have a lot to look at ourselves about," an emotional Rapinoe said after the full-time whistle. "We need to look at ourselves and need to perform better. Period.

"We don't have the juice because the ball's bouncing off our shins and we're not finding open passes and we're not doing the simple things.

"We can deep dive into analysing and I know we will but at the end of the day there's all the prep you can do, there's all the analysing and the tactics and then there's the everything else and you can't put a name on the everything else - it's just the getting it done from players, from all of us, I think."

Thoughts on Rapinoe's goal from a corner? Did she mean it?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Goals, Women's Football, Australia, USA, Megan Rapinoe