The USWNT stay unbeaten beneath Emma Hayes because the Stars and Stripes kicked off their 2024 Paris Olympics marketing campaign with a 3-0 win over Zambia.
The U. S. Ladies’s Nationwide Staff got here into the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of many favorites to win the complete match. The USWNT has discovered loads of success on the Olympics earlier than, profitable a report 4 gold medals, however the Stars and Stripes haven’t received the final word Olympic prize since 2012. Of their first match this summer time, Emma Hayes’ squad hoped to get off to a robust begin in opposition to Zambia of their first Group B fixture.
How the sport unfolded
The USWNT dominated the sport from kickoff, and an early purpose felt inevitable, particularly after Lindsey Horan hit the crossbar within the 14th minute. It was Trinity Rodman, although, who discovered the breakthrough for the USA simply three minutes later. Sophia Smith went on a run down the left earlier than discovering Lindsey Horan, who slotted the ball by to Rodman for the sport’s opening purpose.
The primary purpose broke the floodgates open. Horan, with acres of time and house, performed a stunning ball to Mallory Swanson, who buried a left-footed shot from 12 yards out. Only one minute later, the ahead would rating her second by rounding the keeper for a simple end to place the USA up 3-0. Issues went from dangerous to worse for Zambia when Pauline Zulu was despatched off within the thirtieth minute for flattening a streaking Smith on purpose.
Regardless of the USWNT’s numerous probabilities on the finish of the primary half and all through the second half, they struggled to discover a fourth purpose. Hayes did sub off the USA’s greatest attackers, together with Smith, Swanson, and Rodman, although, or else the highly effective entrance three absolutely would have added to the scoreline.
Nonetheless, even with out one other purpose, the USA took care of enterprise and left the Stade de Good with all three factors.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 6/10 – Naeher had little to do tonight, however stood tall in opposition to Zambia’s few half probabilities.
RB: Emily Fox – 6/10 – Fox was not requested to do a lot in opposition to Zambia, however at occasions, she struggled to maintain up with the tempo of Barba Banda.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6/10 – Girma led the USA’s backline to their fifth clear sheet beneath Emma Hayes.
CB: Tierna Davidson – 6/10 – Davidson loved a quiet night time on the again due to her group’s dominance in possession.
LB: Crystal Dunn – 6/10 – Dunn bought the nod over Jenna Nighswonger, and did effectively to indicate her supervisor the poise and expertise she brings to the left flank. She did miss a wide-open header within the dying phases of the sport, although, to offer USA their fourth purpose.
CM: Rose Lavelle – 6/10 – Lavelle linked up effectively with Horan and Swanson to create harmful probabilities, and all the time appeared snug with the ball at her ft.
CM: Lindsey Horan – 7/10 – Horan will likely be upset she didn’t rating tonight, however she greater than made up for it with two assists.
CM: Samantha Coffey – 6/10 – Coffey did effectively to assist her facet preserve possession and management the tempo of the match, particularly as soon as Zambia went down to 10.
RW: Trinity Rodman – 7/10 – Rodman scored her first purpose of the calendar yr in her Olympic debut to get the USA on the board.
ST: Sophia Smith – 7/10 – Sophia Smith may not have discovered the again of the online, however the 23-year-old was instrumental within the USA’s opening and third purpose. She was subbed off after struggling a knock within the first half.
LW: Mallory Swanson – 8/10 – Swanson was the USA’s greatest participant tonight, scoring a brace in two minutes. She would have had a hattrick if not for the crossbar.
Substitutes
SUB: Lynn Williams – 5/10 – Williams got here on for an injured Smith, and had a number of half probabilities within the second half, however couldn’t end.
SUB: Korbin Albert – 6/10 – Albert appeared the most effective of the substitutes, utilizing her playmaking skill to get the USA in prime positions to attain.
SUB: Casey Krueger – 5/10 – Krueger had a quiet 25 minutes tonight, however did effectively to trace again in opposition to Zambia’s quick counter assault.
SUB: Jenna Nighswonger – 5/10 – Nighswonger might need anticipated to begin tonight, however the left-back solely bought to play the sport’s last 25 minutes.
SUB: Emily Sonnett – 5/10 – Sonnett helped the USA handle the tip of the sport.
Supervisor
Emma Hayes -7/10 – After all, the USWNT had been anticipated to beat Zambia, so Emma Hayes won’t obtain an abundance of credit score for tonight’s end result. Nonetheless, followers will likely be excited to see the USA again to their scoring methods after a number of stumbles of their Olympic warmup matches.
The Stars and Stripes’ highly effective, exact efficiency tonight earned Hayes her first aggressive win in cost, and can give the USA loads of momentum heading into their match in opposition to Germany on July 28. It is going to be talked about, although, that the USA couldn’t discover a fourth purpose in opposition to ten ladies for over 60 minutes.