The choice of USAthanks to a brace and help from Sophia Smith, thrashed this Saturday Vietnam 3-0, but they need to improve their goalkeeping if they want to achieve their third consecutive world crown, something no team – women’s or men’s – has achieved in history.
Truly superior to the Vietnamese from the opening whistle, the Americans left some shadows and points to improve, such as the penalty missed by one of their great stars, striker Alex Morgan, or their very limited overall success in front of goal.
As an example, the USA made a total of 27 shots (24 inside the area) but only eight of them were on target and only three went into the net. Vietnam, overjoyed just to qualify for their first World Cup, also had a moment of unforgettable joy when their goalkeeper Thi Kim Thanh Tran saved Morgan’s penalty.
Smith, one of the youngsters called upon to dazzle at this World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, scored his two goals in the first half. In addition, the attacker from Portland Thorns provided a pass in the second half for Lindsey Horan to complete the victory of the four-time world champions (1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019).
The match started with a scare for the stars and stripes team when Trinity Rodman fell to the ground in the first minute but eventually recovered and continued the match.
The first goal for the US came in the 14th minute with a superb triangulation. Horan, with a deep pass that cut through the lines, found Morgan, who produced a perfect spur assist and through space for Smith to add his first World Cup goal.
It was clear from the start that the US had generated plenty of attack against a Vietnam team armed with their 5-4-1, but could not find a way to convert their countless chances.
The Americans looked like they could solve the problem on the brink of half-time when Thi Loan Hoang brought down Rodman inside the box. However, Morgan deflected from the penalty spot, with a weak penalty shot directly across the body of Thi Kim Thanh Tran, and the Vietnamese celebrated in style with a group around their goalkeeper.
Smith sent the ball into the net already in the first half and, despite appearing to be offside, VAR finally awarded the goal with the match 2-0 at halftime.
It did not change the game on the restart, with many errors and problems for the US to convert their chances into goals. Megan Rapinoe, who recently announced she will retire from professional soccer at the end of this season, came on for Morgan in the second half.
Again it was Smith who sparked the Americans’ attack by taking advantage of a mistake at the back of Vietnam and laying the ball for Horan’s goal. The USA will have, within group E, a more complicated commitment a priori on the second day when they face the Netherlands, the team they defeated in the 2019 World Cup final (2-0).
DATA SHEET
3 – USA: Alyssa Naeher; Emily Fox (Sofia Huerta, m.84), Naomi Girma, Julie Ertz, Crystal Dunn (Kelley O’Hara, m.84); Savannah DeMelo (Rose Lavelle, d.61), Lindsey Horan; Sophia Smith, Andi Sullivan, Trinity Rodman (Alyssa Thompson, m.76); Alex Morgan (Megan Rapinoe, d.61)
Instructor: Vlatko Andonovski
0 – Vietnam: Thi Kim Thanh Tran; Thu Thao Tran, Thu Thuong Luong (Thi Kieu Chuong, d.61), Diem My Le, Thu Tran, Loan Hoang; Hai Linh Tran (Thi Van Duong, m.89), Bich Thuy Nguyen (Thi My Anh Nguyen, m.61), Thao Thai, Tuyet Dung Nguyen (Thi Van Su Ngan, m.46); Nhu Hyunh (Hai Yen Pham, d.76)
Coach: Duc Chung Mai
the objectives: 1-0, Sophia Smith (d. 14); 2-0, Sophia Smith (d. 45-7); 3-0, Lindsey Horan (d. 77)
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco). USA’s Lindsey Horan and Vietnam’s Nhu Huynh booked
Incidents: The Group E match of the World Cup was played at Eden Park in Auckland (New Zealand) in front of 41,107 spectators
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
