The United States women's soccer team made a commanding return to the global stage, crushing Zambia 3-0 in their Olympic opener, putting the disappointment of their early World Cup exit behind them.
The last time the United States women's soccer team graced the world stage, it was a humbling experience. Eliminated in the round of 16 of last year's World Cup after capturing the previous two tournaments, the USWNT bore the weight of redemption on their shoulders.
In their first game on the Olympic pitch in Nice, France, they answered the call with a resounding victory that exorcised their World Cup demons.
USWNT Breaks World Cup Curse with Dominant Victory over Zambia
Trinity Rodman, in her Olympic debut, opened the scoring for the Stars and Stripes in the 17th minute. Her goal set the tone for a dominant display that saw the USWNT control the tempo and possession throughout.
Just seven minutes later, Mallory Swanson doubled the lead with a clinical finish. Not content with a one-goal advantage, Swanson struck again just 70 seconds later, giving the USWNT a commanding 3-0 cushion.
USWNT Breaks World Cup Curse with Dominant Victory over Zambia
Zambia's hopes of a comeback were further dashed when Pauline Zulu was sent off with a red card in the 33rd minute, leaving them with only 10 players for the remainder of the match.
The USWNT continued to press for more goals, but they were unable to add to their tally. Nonetheless, the victory served as a statement of intent, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
USWNT Breaks World Cup Curse with Dominant Victory over Zambia
"I think there's little things within that game, within the play, that we need to fine-tune, that we can just keep on growing with," said Swanson. "So, I think there's definitely those little things, and we'll address them and fix them and keep moving forward."
Head coach Emma Hayes admitted that, before the game, she might not have been entirely satisfied with a 3-0 victory. However, she acknowledged that it was a positive step forward for the team.
"We're still in the early stages of our preparation for the Olympics, so we're still trying to find our feet and build our fitness," Hayes said. "But I'm pleased with the performance overall."
The victory over Zambia sets the USWNT up nicely for their next match against Germany on Sunday. A win in Marseille would put them in a strong position to advance to the knockout stage.
The United States has a long history of success in the Olympics, winning four gold medals and one silver in the previous five tournaments. The team is determined to add to their medal count in Paris, and their impressive performance against Zambia suggests that they are on the right track.
