MIAMI, Florida — The United States Women’s National Team made their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup debut on Saturday afternoon at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam in Group E.
Sophia Smith scored a pair of first half goals and had an assist to pace the U.S. to the three points.
From the opening whistle the defending champions came out in search of a goal and found it in the 13’ when Smith received a pass from FW Alex Morgan on the left side of the pitch, drove past the Vietnamese defense and sent the ball to the back of the net with a low, strong left-footed shot for a 1-0 lead. It was also the 50th career international assist for Morgan
Another chance for the U.S. came when Vietnam DF Thi Loan committed a foul on FW Trinity Rodman in the area in the 41’. After a VAR review, the referee called for a penalty. Morgan was ready to double her team's lead, but GK Thi Kim Thanh Tran denied her the goal.
The U.S. would double their lead to 2-0 before halftime, though, in the 45+7’ as Smith intercepted a ball that was cleared by Thanh Tran, and shot from outside the box past the Vietnamese defense, scoring her second goal of the day. It was initially called offside, but after a VAR review the goal stood.
A milestone was reached in the 61’ when legendary FW Megan Rapinoe was subbed on to replace Morgan, earning her 200th cap representing the USWNT.
The third goal for the U.S. then came in the 77’ from the boots of captain Lindsey Horan, who received a ball in the area from Smith, her first assist in the tournament, and with no hesitation scored on a right-footed finish in the area.
The next game for the U.S. to continue their quest for their fifth star will be next Thursday at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand against The Netherlands, a rematch of the last Women’s World Cup Final at France 2019.
