Sophia Smith netted a brace, including a crucial goal in the 44th minute, as the United States cruised past Germany with a resounding 4-1 victory in their Olympic group stage clash. This decisive win propels the USWNT into the quarterfinals, setting their sights on a successful tournament. Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams also made their mark on the scoreboard, contributing to the Americans’ dominant performance. The USWNT is determined to make a statement after their disappointing World Cup campaign last summer. They’re currently playing their first major tournament under new coach Emma Hayes, who took the reins in late May. Hayes is tasked with guiding the Americans towards redemption and solidifying their legacy as the most successful team in Olympic history, with four gold medals to their name. The Americans had a slightly shaky start to the match. Smith, who started after leaving the opener with an ankle injury, opened the scoring in the 10th minute, converting a cross from Trinity Rodman that sailed past German goalkeeper Katrin-Ann Berger. However, Germany leveled the score in the 22nd minute when Giulia Gwinn unleashed a low, bouncing shot from outside the penalty area that evaded diving U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Swanson, however, restored the American lead just four minutes later. Berger punched out a long-range attempt by Smith, but Swanson capitalized on the rebound to score her third goal of the Olympics. Swanson’s impressive feat makes her only the second player, after Abby Wambach in 2012, to score three goals in the group stage at an Olympics. Smith wasn’t done yet, securing her second goal in the 44th minute. Her high-arcing shot hit the far post before caroming into the net. Williams, who came on as a substitute, capped off the dominant performance in the 89th minute with the final goal. The Marseille crowd erupted in cheers, chanting “USA! USA!” as the clock ticked down. The victory wasn’t without its concerns for the Americans. Defender Tierna Davidson had to leave the match due to an injury and was replaced by Emily Sonnett. Germany also suffered a blow when Alexandra Popp exited the game in the 76th minute with what appeared to be a right leg injury. This loss adds to their injury woes, as they were already playing without midfielder Lena Oberdorf due to a knee injury. The United States will now face Australia in their final group game in Marseille. Meanwhile, Germany, who defeated Australia in their opening match, will take on Zambia in Saint-Etienne. The match between Australia and Zambia turned out to be a thrilling encounter. Australia staged an impressive comeback after falling behind 5-2 early in the second half. Barbra Banda, who had scored a hat trick in the first half, played a key role in Zambia’s early dominance. However, an own goal by Ngambo Musole sparked Australia’s fightback in the 58th minute. Steph Catley’s brilliance shone through as she scored twice, first with a free kick in the 65th minute and then from the penalty spot in the 78th, bringing the scores level. Michelle Heyman, who had come on as a substitute in the 57th minute, sealed the dramatic victory for the Matildas with a goal in the 90th minute. This win gave Australia a crucial boost in their pursuit of a spot in the quarterfinals. Despite their impressive comeback, Australia had started the tournament with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Germany. They will now face the United States in their final group match, hoping for a repeat of their comeback magic. Zambia, on the other hand, will be aiming to bounce back against Germany. They were involved in the highest-scoring game in Olympic women’s soccer history, suffering a 10-3 defeat to the Netherlands at the Tokyo Games three years ago. Banda also scored a hat trick in that match. In Group C, Spain continued their strong start, defeating Nigeria to claim their second consecutive victory. Alexia Putellas scored the winning goal in the 85th minute, curling a long free kick past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into the top corner. This win puts Spain three points clear at the top of the group, ahead of Japan and Brazil. Colombia, meanwhile, bounced back from their opening loss to France with a victory over New Zealand in Lyon. Marcela Restrepo opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and Leicy Santos sealed the win with a goal in the 72nd minute. This victory moves Colombia level on points with France in Group A. New Zealand, despite their back-to-back losses, still hold a position above last-place Canada. Canada faced a six-point deduction due to the drone spying scandal that shook the tournament. As the Olympic tournament progresses, the competition continues to heat up. The USWNT’s victory over Germany signals their intent to contend for the gold medal. The drama of comebacks and upsets adds to the excitement, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next set of matches.
Sophia Smith Leads USA to Victory Over Germany at Paris Olympics
