The USWNT remain unbeaten under Emma Hayes as the Stars and Stripes kicked off their 2024 Paris Olympics campaign with a 3-0 win over Zambia.
The U. S. Women’s National Team came into the 2024 Paris Olympics as one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. The USWNT has found plenty of success at the Olympics before, winning a record four gold medals, but the Stars and Stripes have not won the ultimate Olympic prize since 2012. In their first match this summer, Emma Hayes’ squad hoped to get off to a strong start against Zambia in their first Group B fixture.
How the game unfolded
The USWNT dominated the game from kickoff, and an early goal felt inevitable, especially after Lindsey Horan hit the crossbar in the 14th minute. It was Trinity Rodman, though, who found the breakthrough for the USA just three minutes later. Sophia Smith went on a run down the left before finding Lindsey Horan, who slotted the ball through to Rodman for the game’s opening goal.
The first goal broke the floodgates open. Horan, with acres of time and space, played a lovely ball to Mallory Swanson, who buried a left-footed shot from 12 yards out. Just one minute later, the forward would score her second by rounding the keeper for an easy finish to put the USA up 3-0. Things went from bad to worse for Zambia when Pauline Zulu was sent off in the 30th minute for pulling down a streaking Smith on goal.
Despite the USWNT’s countless chances at the end of the first half and throughout the second half, they struggled to find a fourth goal. Hayes did sub off the USA’s best attackers, including Smith, Swanson, and Rodman, though, or else the powerful front three surely would have added to the scoreline.
Still, even without another goal, the USA took care of business and left the Stade de Nice with all three points.
GK: Alyssa Naeher – 6/10 – Naeher had little to do tonight, but stood tall against Zambia’s few half chances.
RB: Emily Fox – 6/10 – Fox was not asked to do much against Zambia, but at times, she struggled to keep up with the pace of Barba Banda.
CB: Naomi Girma – 6/10 – Girma led the USA’s backline to their fifth clean sheet under Emma Hayes.
CB: Tierna Davidson – 6/10 – Davidson enjoyed a quiet night at the back thanks to her team’s dominance in possession.
LB: Crystal Dunn – 6/10 – Dunn got the nod over Jenna Nighswonger, and did well to show her manager the poise and experience…
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