USWNT gets off to strong start at Paris Olympics, downing Zambia 3-0

NICE, France – The U.S. Women’s National Team enjoyed a successful start at the 2024 Paris Olympics – its first tournament under head coach Emma Hayes – dominating Zambia on the way to a 3-0 scoreline in the south of France. (HIGHLIGHTS)

A blistering first-half performance, highlighted by a slick goal from forward Trinity Rodman and a 70-second brace from forward Mallory Swanson, powered the USA to earn the three points.

Captain Lindsey Horan contributed two assists in a dynamic first-half showing from the young Americans. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher posted her third shutout in the last three games and the USA limited Zambia to just three shots on frame, all on isolated forays in the second half. Seven players made their Olympic debut as Hayes fielded the program’s youngest starting XI (27.4 years) at a Women’s World Cup or Olympic tournament since the Beijing Games in 2008.

The USWNT now has opened the Olympic tournament with a victory in six of eight all-time appearances. The 2024 competition comprises 12 nations in three groups of four. The top two teams in each quartet following the group-stage round robin, along with the two best third-place finishers, will advance to the Aug. 3 quarterfinals. The USA’s Group B also features Germany — the two-time Women’s World Cup champion and 2016 Olympic gold medalist — and 2023 Women’s World Cup semifinalist Australia. The Germans rolled past Australia, 3-0, earlier on Thursday, setting up a top-of-the-group showdown on Sunday in Marseille.

Zambia arrived in France ranked 64th in the world but were expected to present a challenge that belied its rating. The Copper Queens have improved considerably in short order, climbing 39 places in FIFA’s table over the past two years while making their Olympic (2021) and Women’s World Cup (2023) debuts. In between, they won bronze at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia also has produced two of the most expensive players in the history of the women’s game. Barbra Banda’s move to the Orlando Pride and Racheal Kundananji’s signing by Bay FC, both before the start of the 2024 NWSL season, set new benchmarks.

This was the first-ever game between the teams and limiting the threat presented by Banda and Kundananji was a chief concern. To that end, veteran Crystal Dunn, whose role has diversified under Hayes, celebrated her 150th cap with a return to left back. The U.S. defense did well to cut off service to the Zambian pair and when Banda got up a head of steam running at the U.S. goal, which she did on several occasions, the U.S. center backs duo of Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson were able to run her down before she could create any real danger. That offered the U.S. attack — which had created myriad chances but just one goal in this month’s Send-Off friendlies — time to find its groove.

It took just 17 minutes. After hitting the crossbar twice and missing a couple of additional promising looks, including one second into the match from Horan, the Americans rediscovered their finishing touch. Rodman scored her first goal of 2024 off a feed from Horan and a nimble roll of the ball behind her leg that froze two Zambian defenders. That dribble made room for her shot, which she slotted underneath Zambian goalkeeper Ng’ambo Musole from 14 yards out.

Swanson then broke the game open with her 70-second brace spanning the 24th and 25th minutes. Both goals came thanks to her strong, well-timed runs into the penalty area — the first off a feed from Horan and the second off an assist from Sophia Smith. Swanson’s 35th and 36th international goals were her first in official competition since the 2022 Concacaf W Championship and marked her first goals at a world championship since the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

The three goals against Zambia matched the USA’s best scoring half this year. When Zambia’s Pauline Zulu was shown a red card for a 34th minute, last-defender foul on Smith, the three points essentially were assured.

Faced with three group-stage games in just seven days and allowed only 18 active players, Hayes replaced Smith – who took a knock on her ankle — with Lynn Williams in the 43rd and playmaker Rose Lavelle with Korbin Albert at halftime.

The USA dominated the ball in the second half while 10-woman Zambia defended deep and searched for Banda on the counter. Rodman and Swanson each came close to adding to their accounts as the contest approached the hour mark and some crisper finishing would have easily doubled the scoreline. The goal scorers, along with Horan, then were substituted in the 65th minute and the USA eventually outshot Zambia 27-8. The African also cleared several U.S. shots out of the goal mouth that were destined for the net.

The USA’s Olympic journey will continue on Sunday, July 28, against old rival Germany at the Stade de Marseille in Marseille (9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET onUSA Network, Telemundo and Peacock). The USA holds a 23W-5L-7D all-time advantage in the series and won the most recent competitive fixture between the sides, the 2015 Women’s World Cup semifinal in Montreal, Canada.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA — Trinity Rodman (Lindsey Horan), 17th minute: Sophia Smith’s brilliant collection on the sideline and decisive dribbling down the left wing opened up the Zambian defense. Her feed inside to Horan was relayed toward Rodman inside the penalty area. Rodman’s deft roll of the ball with her right foot eliminated two Zambian defenders and drew goalkeeper Ng’ambo Musole off her line, allowing the U.S. forward to slide the ball home. USA 1, ZAM 0

USA — Mallory Swanson (Lindsey Horan), 24th minute: The Americans doubled their lead on a goal that resembled the opener. Smith fed Horan from the left, then the captain slipped the ball into the penalty area. But this time it was Swanson on the end of it. She took a single touch, rounded the ‘keeper and finished high into the left side of the net with her left foot from a tough angle. USA 2, ZAM 0

USA — Mallory Swanson (Sophia Smith), 25th minute: Rose Lavelle picked up a loose ball in midfield and passed to Smith in the left channel. Smith saw Swanson racing into the penalty area and found her with a slick outside-of-the-foot pass. Swanson shielded Zambia’s Martha Tembo, took a touch past the ‘keeper, and then finished into an empty net. USA 3, ZAM 0 FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• The USWNT improves to 28W-4L-7D all-time at the Olympic games and 6W-2L-0D in Olympic openers. The USA’s 28 wins at the Olympics are 10 more than any other team in the history of the Olympic Women’s Olympic Soccer tournament.
• The USWNT improves to 9W-1L-3D on the year and is now unbeaten in 10 consecutive games following the defeat to Mexico on Feb. 26 at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup.
• Seven players – Coffey, Fox, Girma, Rodman, Smith, Albert and Nighswonger — made their Olympic debut against Zambia while Rodman became the first player since Alex Morgan in 2012 to score in her first Olympic match.
• At 22 years, 66 days of age, Rodman is the youngest player to score for the USWNT at a world championship since a 21-year-old Mallory Swanson scored against Thailand in the USA’s opening win at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• Swanson’s brace was the first multi-goal game by any player at the 2024 Olympics and she is now just the sixth player in USWNT history to score multiple goals in an Olympic match, joining Tiffeny Milbrett, Angela Hucles, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe.
• Horan is the fifth player in USWNT history with multiple assists in an Olympic match, joining Mia Hamm, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz.
• Smith’s assist on Swanson’s second goal was the 10th of her career and her second career assist at a world championship. She also set up Horan’s goal in the USA’s opening win of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
• Alyssa Naeher recorded her second career Olympic shutout.
• The U.S. defense has now kept a clean sheet in each of its first five matches under head coach Emma Hayes, the second-longest streak to open the tenure of any full-time USWNT head coach, trailing only a streak of nine consecutive shutouts to open the Greg Ryan era.
• Hayes is the eighth head coach to lead the USWNT into a major tournament and just the fourth to record a win in her first world championship match, joining Jill Ellis (2015 World Cup), April Heinrichs (2000 Olympics) and Anson Dorrance (1991 World Cup).
• Crystal Dunn made her 11th all-time appearance for the USWNT at the Olympics and became the 26th player in USWNT history to earn 150 caps.

– U.S. WOMENS NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –

Match: United States Women’s National Team vs. Zambia
Date: July 25, 2024
Competition: Paris 2024 Olympics; Group B
Venue: Stade de Nice: Nice, France
Attendance: 5,550
Kickoff: 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET
Weather: 84 degrees; humid

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 7-Crystal Dunn, 12-Tierna Davidson, 4-Naomi Girma, 2-Emily Fox; 17-Sam Coffey, 16-Rose Lavelle (3-Korbin Albert, 46), 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.) (14-Emily Sonnett, 65); 11-Sophia Smith (8-Lynn Williams, 43), 9-Mallory Swanson (13-Jenna Nighswonger, 65); 5-Trinity Rodman (6-Casey Krueger, 65)
Substitutions Not Used: 18-Casey Murphy, 20-Croix Bethune
Head coach: Emma Hayes

ZAM: 18-Ng’ambo Musole; 13-Martha Tembo, 3-Lushomo Mweemba, 5-Pauline Zulu, 4-Esther Siamfuko; 17-Racheal Kundananji, 15-Hellen Chanda, 14-Prisca Chilufya (12-Avell Chitundu, 37), 10-Grace Chanda (16-Esther Muching, 38), 11-Barbra Banda, 9-Kabange Mupopo
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Catherine Musonda, 2-Diana Banda, 6-Rhoda Chileshe, 7- Misozi Zulu, 8-Ochumba OsekeLubandji,
Head coach: Bruce Mwape

Stats Summary: USA / ZAM
Shots: 27 / 8
Shots on Goal: 8 / 3
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 7
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
ZAM – Pauline Zulu (Ejection) 34th minute
USA – Trinity Rodman (Caution) 44
ZAM – Martha Tembo (Caution) 45

Officials:
Referee: Ramon Abatti (BRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Rafael Alves (BRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Guilherme Camilo (BRA)
4th Official: Veronika Berntskaia (KGZ)
VAR: Daiane Muniz (BRA)
AVAR 1: Rodrigo Carvajal (CHI)

Woman of the Match: Mallory Swanson