The United States Women's Soccer Team swiftly adjusted to Paris 2024, clinching a decisive 3-0 win against Zambia in their first match.
Trinity Rodman initiated the scoring, succeeded by Mallory Swanson's pair of goals, nearly ensuring victory by halftime. Sophia Smith, a 23-year-old forward, was substituted out due to injury concerns just before halftime but has been declared fit to participate in their upcoming match against Germany tomorrow. It was a perfect beginning for the Americans, symbolizing a notable achievement in the Emma Hayes era.
Swanson's remarkable two-goal performance against Zambia occurred in just 66 seconds, marking the fastest multi-goal achievement by a single player in USWNT history. This record is likely to be difficult to beat in the future.
To provide some perspective on the speed of this achievement, the last player to accomplish such a feat was Carli Lloyd, as reported by OptaJack, when she scored a hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup final. Those two goals were scored just 2 minutes and 19 seconds apart.
Swanson has joined an elite group of players in the history of the U.S. Women's National Team. She is now the sixth player to score multiple goals in an Olympic tournament, adding her name to the illustrious list that includes renowned players such as Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe.
Hayes's steadfast belief in her young and inexperienced squad is clear—she wouldn't have selected these players if she didn't think they had the ability. In their first game, they met expectations and performed admirably.
Under the English manager, seven players made their Olympic debuts, with five of them starting the match and the other two coming on as substitutes.
At just 22 years old, Rodman made history as one of the debutants by becoming the first player since Morgan at the 2012 London Olympics to score in their debut match.
The starting lineup for Hayes's team featured seven players who were 26 years old or younger, which was the highest number of young players they had fielded in a single game since their 2007 World Cup match against Sweden, where they also had seven players of a comparable age.
It signifies a notable shift in strategy for the USA, rejuvenating the team as they embark on a new era with a fresh perspective.
Naomi Girma etched her name in the Olympic record books on Thursday with her outstanding passing display against Zambia.
The 24-year-old player not only maintained a flawless record, which was undoubtedly her greatest source of satisfaction, but she also displayed exceptional passing accuracy. Out of the 82 passes she attempted, she successfully completed 79, achieving an impressive success rate of 96.3%. This marks the highest percentage attained by any player in a women's Olympic match since 2012.
Girma demonstrates the attributes that Hayes cherishes in her defenders: intelligence, foresight, ballhandling ability, and defensive strength. Her outstanding performance and leadership were apparent when Lindsey Horan was substituted in the second half, with the center-back taking on the role of captain.
The upcoming match between the USWNT and Germany this Sunday promises to be a must-watch event, especially considering their impressive opening performance.