The United States took on Zambia in their first game of the Paris 2024 women’s soccer tournament. The game was at Allianz Riviera in Nice, France. The United States Women’s National Team are looking for a solid bounce back after disappointing results in both Tokyo 2022 and in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The pressure is high for the United States coming in to this tournament. The expectations are gold. They were eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They were also won a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Tokyo 2020 were the Zambia Women’s National Teams first appearances in both events.
I was expecting a United States win. Zambia is a game that the United States should win. I was confident but not really optimistic. This match was the United States game to lose. This match should was going to be an uphill battle for Zambia. There was pressure on the United States to win this game. The United States needed a strong start to this tournament. A loss for the United States this would have been a huge blow.
The United States took the lead in the 17′ minute. The goal was scored by Trinity Rodman. The assist came from Lindsey Hellen. Hellen passed the ball to Rodman in the box. Rodman did a spin move to get around two defenders. The Zambia keeper came out to try to get the ball. she scored. Brilliant move by Rodman to get around the defenders. She followed that up with an excellent shot.
In the 24′ minute, the United States took a 2-0 lead. Mallory Swanson scored the goal. Lindsey Horan got the assist. Horan got the ball through two Zambia players and into the box to Swanson. Swanson scored from there.
In the 25′ minute, the United States took a three goal lead. Mallory Swanson scored the goal. Sophia Smith got the assist. Smith got the ball out wide. She had a defender chasing her. That created space in the box. Smith got the ball to Swanson. The Zambia keeper tried to get the ball before Swanson but because she got it first, she was able to around the keeper for a wide open net goal. Zambia were preparing for Smith to take a shot. She got the defender and keeper to come out of position. She had great awareness that the space in the box was open for Swanson.
Zambia would received a red card in the 30′ minute of the game. The red card was awarded to Pauline Zulu. The decision for a red card was only given after a video review. The United States and Zambia would both get yellow cards in extra time of the first half. The score was 3-0 United States going into the second half.
Neither team scored in the second half. The United States had some good chances. Zambia had a couple of good runs but they ended with weak chances. In the 65′ minute the united states would make three substitutions and was on cruse control for the rest of the game. The final score was 3-0 United States.
The United States Women’s National Team started things off with a win. The score was the reverse of the men’s score from yesterday. It was a solid match for the United States. They were deadly in the box in this game. They do need to work on their finishing. They had some opportunities late in the game that where they did not score but should have. With Zambia only having eleven players, the United States should have had another goal or two. They were in control for most of the game. The United States had a job to do and they did it. There is room for improvement but it just game one. This was the fifth game in a row in 2024 that the United States Women’s National Team did not allow a goal. That is very impressive. They are definitely at a high level of play. coming into this tournament. This is also the first Olympics since 1996 that the United States Women’s National Team roster does not feature a player who has won a gold medal. It would be hard to know that none of them were gold medalist after they way the played in todays match.
The United States controlled 67% of the possession. The United States had twenty more shots than Zambia. Both teams had the same amount of yellow cards. The big stand out stat is the Zambia red card.
The United States with Germany for the top spot in Group B. If the United States win their next game, they will be in the top spot and will move onto the elimination stage. If the United States loses their next game, they may no longer be in a position to advance. It would all come down to the results of their final game and other Group B games. If the United States draws in their next game, they will be in the same position they are in now.
The United States take on Germany for their second game of the group stage. That game will be on Sunday, July 28th, 2024. Kick off is scheduled for 12:00 PM. That game will be at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.
Zac Electrifly 
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