Hayes 'repays faith' with golden start

Women's soccer coach restores US team's winning ways

Less than three months after taking charge of a United States women's soccer team in crisis, English coach Emma Hayes has restored it to the pinnacle of the game and her players say "the joy" of playing is back.

Hayes, who took over in late May, after leaving her role with club team Chelsea, guided the US to victory in Saturday's Olympic final with a 1-0 win over Brazil.

It is a fifth gold for the US, but one that many had doubted it was capable of winning after its early exit from last year's women's World Cup.