The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) began their Olympic campaign with a dominant 3-0 victory over Zambia on Thursday night, signaling their intent to reclaim the gold medal. New coach Emma Hayes secured a winning start in her first major tournament with the team, leading the USWNT towards their pursuit of a record fifth Olympic gold.
Mallory Swanson stole the show with a pair of goals within 70 seconds in the 24th and 25th minutes, putting the USWNT in a commanding position. Trinity Rodman also contributed to the victory, scoring in the 17th minute, showcasing her talent on the international stage.
Zambia, despite the valiant effort, faced a setback when Pauline Zulu received a red card in the 33rd minute, leaving them to play with ten players for the rest of the match. The dismissal significantly hampered Zambia’s ability to mount a comeback.
The USWNT, under Hayes’ leadership, are determined to bounce back from their disappointing performance at last summer’s Women’s World Cup. Hayes made bold decisions with her roster, leaving veteran forward Alex Morgan out of the squad.
Sophia Smith left the match with an apparent ankle injury late in the first half. Lynn Williams, initially an alternate, replaced her after Catarina Macario’s inability to play due to a knee injury.
This match marked the first encounter between the USWNT and Zambia on the international stage. While Zambia featured star players Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, they couldn’t break through the USWNT’s defense.
The USWNT’s victory sets the tone for their Olympic journey as they strive to reach the pinnacle of women’s soccer once again.
