USWNT Dominates Zambia in 2024 Paris Olympics Opener
The U.S. Women’s National Team, led by head coach Emma Hayes, secured a 3-0 victory against Zambia in their first match at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Goals from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson, along with stellar performances from Lindsey Horan and Alyssa Naeher, propelled the USA to a commanding win. The team showcased a strong defense and promising young talent, setting the stage for a competitive tournament ahead.
#USWNT #Olympics #Football #WomenInSports #TeamUSA
#USWNT #Olympics #Football #WomenInSports #TeamUSA
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00:00The US women's national team enjoyed a successful start at the 2024 Paris Olympics, its first
00:07tournament under head coach Emma Hayes, dominating Zambia on the way to a 3-0 scoreline in the
00:12south of France.
00:15A blistering first-half performance, highlighted by a slick goal from forward Trinity Rodman
00:20and a 70-second brace from forward Mallory Swanson, powered the USA to earn the three
00:25points.
00:28Goalkeeper Lindsay Horan contributed two assists in a dynamic first half showing from the young
00:33Americans.
00:35Goalkeeper Alyssa Nayar posted her third shutout in the last three games.
00:41The USA limited Zambia to just three shots on frame, all on isolated forays in the second
00:46half.
00:48Seven players made their Olympic debut as Hayes fielded the program's youngest starting
00:5211, 27.4 years, at a women's World Cup or Olympic tournament since the Beijing Games
00:58in 2008.
01:01The USWNT now has opened the Olympic tournament with a victory in six of eight all-time appearances.
01:08The 2024 competition comprises 12 nations in three groups of four.
01:14The top two teams in each quartet following the group stage round-robin, along with the
01:19two best third-place finishers, will advance to the August third-quarter finals.
01:25The USA's Group B also features Germany, the two-time Women's World Cup champion and 2016
01:31Olympic gold medalist and 2023 Women's World Cup semi-finalist Australia.
01:38The Germans rolled past Australia, 3-0, earlier on Thursday, setting up a top-of-the-group
01:43showdown on Sunday in Marseille.
01:46Zambia arrived in France ranked 64th in the world but were expected to present a challenge
01:51that belied its rating.
01:54The Copper Queens have improved considerably in short order, climbing 39 places in FIFA's
01:59table over the past two years while making their Olympic 2021 and Women's World Cup
02:052023 debuts.
02:08In between, they won bronze at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
02:15Zambia also has produced two of the most expensive players in the history of the women's game.
02:20Barbara Banda's move to the Orlando Pride and Rachel Kundanangi's signing by Bay F.C.,
02:25both before the start of the 2024 NWSL season, set new benchmarks.
02:32This was the first-ever game between the teams and limiting the threat presented by Banda
02:36and Kundanangi was a chief concern.
02:39To that end, veteran Crystal Dunne, whose role has diversified under Hayes, celebrated
02:44her 150th cap with a return to left back.
02:50The U.S. defense did well to cut off service to the Zambian pair and when Banda got up
02:54ahead of steam running at the U.S. goal, which she did on several occasions, the U.S. center-backs
02:59duo of Naomi Germa and Tierna Davidson were able to run her down before she could create
03:04any real danger.
03:07That offered the U.S. attack, which had created myriad chances but just one goal in this month's
03:12send-off friendlies, timed to find its groove.
03:15It took just 17 minutes.
03:19After hitting the crossbar twice and missing a couple of additional promising looks, including
03:24one second into the match from Horan, the Americans rediscovered their finishing touch.
03:30Robman scored her first goal of 2024 off a feed from Horan and a nimble roll of the ball
03:36behind her leg that froze two Zambian defenders.
03:39That dribble made room for her shot, which she slotted underneath Zambian goalkeeper
03:43Ngambo Musil from 14 yards out.
03:48Swanson then broke the game open with her 72nd brace spanning the 24th and 25th minutes.
03:55Both goals came thanks to her strong, well-timed runs into the penalty area, the first off
04:00a feed from Horan and the second off an assist from Sophia Smith.