Sophia Smith scored a pair of goals to help the United States beat Germany 4-1 and advance to the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics on Sunday night.
Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams also scored for the Americans, who defeated Zambia 3-0 in the opener.
The US are playing their first major tournament under new coach Emma Hayes, who took over the US team in late May. Hayes is tasked with leading the US as they seek to distance themselves from the disappointment of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, when they crashed out in the round of 16.
The US are the winningest team in the Olympics, with four gold medals. They won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Games under former coach Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned after a disappointing performance at the the 2023 World Cup.
In six games under Hayes, the US look far from a team in need of a rebuild after their early World Cup exit and more like a side with expectations of winning another gold.
This was the most complete performance under Hayes to date. In early games under the new coach, the US relied on a solid defensive line and moments of individual brilliance further up the pitch.
But the victory on Sunday pointed to a team embracing the ideas of the decorated coach. Hayes named an unchanged XI from the team’s opener against Zambia, and set her team up to overwhelm the middle of the pitch. From the first minute, the US controlled the tempo of the game and created chances.
Ten minutes into the match, Smith struck a cross from Trinity Rodman that sailed past German goalkeeper Katrin-Ann Berger.
In the early stages, the US bossed the ball, pulling Germany’s midfield apart with crafty movement and incisive passing. Giulia Gwinn equalized in the 22nd minute with a low, bouncing shot from well outside the penalty area that eluded diving US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
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After equalizing, Germany looked to match the US numbers in the middle of the pitch, but that too often left the German defenders exposed in a three v three matchup against the potent frontline of Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. With space to work with, the US forwards took advantage.
Swanson put the United States back in front in the 26th. Berger punched out an attempt from distance by Smith, but Swanson picked up the rebound for a goal. It was Swanson’s third goal of the Olympics so far, making her the second US player to score three goals in the group stage at an Olympics alongside Abby Wambach.
Smith scored her second in the 44th minute on a high-arcing shot that hit the far post and caromed into the goal.
Williams, a substitute, added the final goal in the 89th minute and fans in Marseille chanted “USA! USA!” as time ran down.
US defender Tierna Davidson left the match with an injury and was replaced by Emily Sonnett.
Alexandra Popp left in the 76th minute with what appeared to be a right leg injury. It was a blow to Germany, which was already playing without midfielder Lena Oberdorf.
The US will plays Australia in Marseille to conclude group play. Germany, who beat Australia in their Olympic opener 3-0, will play Zambia in Saint-Etienne.
Source: theguardian.com
