(Auckland) Double defending champions, the Americans logically dominated Vietnam for their entry into the World Cup on Saturday in Auckland (3-0), with a double from striker Sophia Smith.
The United States, which is aiming for a third World Cup title in a row, takes the lead in Group E while awaiting the duel between the Netherlands and Portugal, scheduled for Sunday in Dunedin (New Zealand).
For their first participation in a World Cup, the Vietnamese resisted the American armada well, but the gap was too great.
Crowned player of the year for the prestigious North American championship in 2022 with Portland, Smith (22) has already shown excellent dispositions with a double (14e45e+7) which allows her to take the lead in the ranking of tournament scorers.
In the absence of Mallory Swanson, another major offensive weapon with a serious knee injury, Smith is already positioning herself as one of the attractions of the competition in Oceania.
Encouraged just before their meeting by US President Joe Biden, the Americans did not flinch, even if their star Alex Morgan missed a penalty, well saved by goalkeeper Kim Tranh Tran Thi (43e).
PHOTO SAEED KHAN, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Goalkeeper Kim Tranh Tran Thi blocked Alex Morgan’s penalty.
A sign of the immense popularity of the American team in the United States, an imposing statue of Morgan has been erected in the middle of New York in recent days. But the striker did not take the best penalty of her career, far from it…
It was the sixth penalty in six games since the start of the World Cup, and only two of them were scored!
For her last season and her last World Cup, the emblematic star of the American selection Megan Rapinoe celebrated her 200e selection by coming into play after 62 minutes, a quarter of an hour before the last goal signed Lindsey Horan (77e), captain at kick-off.
PHOTO ABBIE PARR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Megan Rapinoe
The meeting was played in front of a well-stocked stadium in Auckland, in the wake of a very encouraging start to the World Cup in terms of attendance.
Scheduling the meeting at 1:00 p.m. local allowed many Americans to meet across the country, as the meeting was held in the early evening on the West Coast.
For the United States, the big moment of the group stage is yet to come, with a clash against the Netherlands on Thursday in Wellington. A resumption of the last world final in France in 2019 won by the Americans (2-0).
This poster will reveal much more about the United States’ ability to win a third consecutive World Cup. An unprecedented feat in history.