2024 Summer Olympics Recap: USWNT 3 - Zambia 0
Emma Hayes secures her first competitive win at the helm of the United States Women's National Team.
The United States Women’s National Team took to the pitch Thursday afternoon as they began their quest for their first gold medal since the 2012 games in London, as they squared off against Zambia inside Nice Stadium.
Prior to kickoff, it was revealed that Jaedyn Shaw was unavailable for the match as she was dealing with a foot injury. With Shaw out, Croix Bethune filled her spot in the matchday squad.
Emma Hayes rolled out a 4-3-3 lineup with Alyssa Naeher in goal behind the back line of Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox. Rose Lavelle, Sam Coffey, and Lindsey Horan formed the midfield behind the attacking trio of Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman.
On the opposite side Bruce Mwape rolled out a 4-4-1-1 formation with Ngambo Musole in net behind the back line of Martha Tembo, Lushomo Mweemba, Pauline Zulu, and Esther Siamfuko. Racheal Kundananji. Hellen Chanda, Prisca Chilufya, and Grace Chanda sat behind Barbra Banda, who sat behind Kabange Mupopo.
The United States nearly found themselves on the board just five minutes in thanks to a well-delivered ball forward. After receiving a pass on the right flank, Swanson turned toward goal and proceeded to lob a ball forward into the box to Smith who got onto the ball and attempted to tap it past Musole, but Smith directed the shot right at the keeper, who made the save.
A poor turnover from Zambia in their defensive half nearly spelled danger in the ninth minute. After Tembo slipped on the pitch, Smith quickly got on the ball and lobbed it to Rodman centrally. Musole came off her line in an attempt to eliminate the danger, but she did so too late as the ball got to the feet of Rodman, who attempted a short-ranged chip. It looked destined to find the back of the net, but it had just too much on it as it dinked off the upper half of the crossbar before being cleared away.
The crossbar did the United States dirty again in the 15th minute. After generating space on the left flank, Dunn crossed the ball to Swanson, who attempted a header. Like Rodman’s shot, it ricocheted off the post and back into play. Horan had a second crack at the ball as she attempted to slot a volley home, but it was cleared away by a recovering defender.
After a number of early chances, the U.S. found itself on the board in the 17th minute thanks to Rodman. After receiving Horan’s pass up the middle, Rodman hit the spin cycle on her defender and generated a pocket of space inside the box. Rodman proceeded to blast a shot past Musole and put the U.S. up 1-0 early.
The U.S. doubled its lead in the 24th minute thanks to Horan’s vision. After receiving Sophia Smith’s pass from the left, Horan proceeded to curl a through ball into the path of a darting Swanson, who took a touch and drilled the ball into the upper-left corner to put the U.S. up 2-0.
A turnover moments after the restart caused problems for Zambia. A series of give-and-go passes led to Smith sending a ball forward to Swanson inside the box. Musole came off her line attempting to get onto the ball, but Swanson evaded the keeper and tapped the ball in to give herself a brace in the span of 70 seconds as the U.S. took a 3-0 lead.
Pauline Zulu became the first player to enter the book as she received a yellow card in the 30th minute for fouling Smith to the ground just outside the box. Horan and Lavelle stood over the ball looking to get the game restarted.
That was until we saw head referee Roman Abbati go to the monitor to review the play. After a few minutes of review, Zulu’s yellow card was upgraded to a red as Zambia found itself playing with ten players for the remainder of the match.
Concern arose for the USWNT in the 40th minute when Smith sat on the ground clutching her right ankle. After medical staff came to her aid, Smith’s night came to an end a few minutes later as she was replaced by Lynn Williams in the 43rd minute.
Emma Hayes made one change at half as Korbin Albert came on to replace Lavelle. Three changes came the United States’ way in the 65th minute as Emily Sonnett, Jenna Nighswonger, and Casey Kruger replaced Horan, Swanson, and Rodman.
Kundananji nearly put Zambia on the scoresheet in the 90th minute. It started when Banda lobbed a ball forward to Kundananji, who turned toward goal and queued up a shot that looked dangerous, but Kruger got there just in time to deflect it out for a corner.
Emma Hayes’ first taste of competitive action was a success as her U.S. side secured a 3-0 shutout over Zambia. Thursday’s win sees the U.S. sit in second place in Group B alongside Germany, who also secured a 3-0 win.
Emma Hayes and the USWNT return to group stage action on Sunday, July 28, when they take on Germany inside Marseille at 3:00 PM ET.
Thanks for the recap!