The US footballers have successfully cleared the opening hurdle at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The four-time world champion defeated outsiders Vietnam in Group E in a David versus Goliath duel 3-0 (2-0).
In the middle of the night German time, Sophia Smith paved the way for the US girls to victory in Eden Park in Auckland with a brace in the first half. Captain Lindsey Horan raised for the Americans, who are chasing their third straight title at the Worlds Down Under.
US team dominates opening game
Although several key players were missing from the US team in the form of regular captain Becky Sauerbrunn, Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, Christen Press and Sam Mewis, the record world champions had an easy time of it. World Cup newcomers Vietnam could be satisfied with their first appearance on the world soccer stage, despite the defeat against the superior power USA.
Mai Duc Chung’s team tried to cushion the impact of the attack with a five-man chain and a defensive orientation. That only worked in the first 14 minutes, then in their first World Cup game, Smith successfully completed a wonderful attack with a well-placed low shot from close range after a spotlessly clean set-up by Alex Morgan. After the 1-0, coach Vlatko Andonovsk’s team kept up the pace and gave the courageous outsider hardly any air to breathe.
Morgan fails with a weak penalty
The Vietnamese women were pressed and stressed – and were lucky that the US girls sinned with the opportunities. The culmination of the usury was the missed penalty, the otherwise so accurate Morgan. The 34-year-old failed in the 43rd minute with a poorly kicked penalty shot by goalkeeper Thi Kim Thanh Tran. The goalkeeper, who is only 1.65 meters tall, didn’t even have to stretch to parry the unplaced shot. Previously, Rodman had been slightly caught in the ankle by Thi Thu Tran in the 16. The Moroccan referee Bouchra initially allowed play to continue, but then checked the scene on the monitor and awarded a penalty.
2-0 from Smith after a VAR check
It wasn’t the only tricky situation. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, a look at the monitor had to help again. Here was the question: to score or not to score in Smith’s ambush shot. Morgan was not offside, Karboubi rightly decided on goal. This allowed the Americans to celebrate their deserved second goal in a turbulent first half.
The US internationals Sophia Smith (left) and Lindsey Horan celebrate a goal.
16:0 after shots on goal
The clear action on the pitch was also reflected in the numbers at the break: the USA recorded 16 goals, Vietnam did not have a shot on goal, made only 127 passes (USA: 221) and did not hit a single cross (USA: 20).
USA continues to dominate after the break
The one-way street football continued after the change – but so did the usury of chances. Smith stumbled five yards from goal seconds after the restart, and captain Lindsey Horan also narrowly missed with a direct acceptance (50′).
The Andonovsk team increasingly pushed for the 3:0 and the safe decision. Although Thi Kim Thanh Tran strayed wildly through the penalty area several times, the US girls didn’t manage to take one of the top chances for a long time. The fans had to wait until the 76th minute before Horan thought about the ball from eight yards out and, after great work from Smith, slotted it in.
Rapinoe in the 200th international match without a goal
Legend Megan Rapinoe, top scorer and best player of the 2019 World Cup, remained goalless in her 200th cap. The 38-year-old was allowed to play at least 30 minutes on her farewell tour, but was hardly able to set any accents and failed once with good prospects from close range.
Next opponents: Netherlands and Portugal
With the victory, the defending champions extended their incredible World Cup series: the last 13 World Cup games were won without exception. Now the success story on July 27 against the Netherlands is to be continued. The Stars and Stripes meet Portugal on August 1 to conclude the group stage.