USWNT's Alex Morgan's penalty kick is DENIED by Vietnam's Thi Kim Thanh Tran in 44'
USA Women’s National Team Secures Convincing Victory over Vietnam in 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Opener

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AUCKLAND, New Zealand (July 22, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s National Team kicked off their campaign in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a strong 3-0 win against Vietnam. Forward Sophia Smith stole the show with a brace, while midfielder and team captain Lindsey Horan also found the back of the net. The match took place at the historic Eden Park in front of a crowd of 41,107 mainly American fans.

The victory saw the USA extend their impressive record in opening matches at the Women’s World Cup to 7 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses. They have now won their last four tournament openers. Additionally, the USWNT continues to set records, as they have now won 13 consecutive matches at the Women’s World Cup, solidifying their position as the team with the most consecutive wins in the tournament’s history.

Looking ahead, the USWNT will face the Netherlands on July 27 at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Their second Group E match promises to be an exciting encounter. The team will then wrap up their group stage with a match against Portugal on August 1 at Eden Park in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau.

Despite Vietnam’s defensive resilience, the USA dominated the game, piling up a staggering 28-0 margin in shots. Vietnam, one of eight debutants in this year’s tournament, played in a compact 5-4-1 formation, focusing on defending and packing their defensive third whenever the USA had possession. A physical match ensued, with Vietnam committing several fouls in their attempts to disrupt the flow of the game.

The USA faced an early scare as forward Trinity Rodman fell heavily after a challenge in the first minute. However, she received prompt attention from the medical staff and was able to return to the pitch shortly afterward. The USWNT created numerous scoring opportunities but were unable to convert them into more goals. Nevertheless, they remained persistent in their search for breakthrough moments.

In the 14th minute, Lindsey Horan orchestrated the opening goal, delivering a brilliant pass to Alex Morgan at the top of the penalty area. Morgan deftly flicked the ball with her heel, setting up Sophia Smith to slot it into the net with her left foot, scoring the tournament’s fastest goal thus far. Just before halftime, Smith struck again in stoppage time, capitalizing on a punched clearance by goalkeeper Tran Thị Kim Thanh.

The second half saw forward Megan Rapinoe achieve a significant milestone—earning her 200th cap for the USWNT. Rapinoe, who recently announced her retirement at the end of the 2023 NWSL season, became the 14th player in the team’s history to reach this achievement. The match was effectively sealed in the 77th minute when Horan, serving as captain for the first time in a major tournament, confidently fired a shot into the net from the center of the penalty box.

The match also saw eight USA players make their Women’s World Cup debuts. Savannah DeMelo, in particular, stood out, making her first career start and becoming the first player in USWNT history to start a World Cup match within her first two caps. The team’s starting lineup featured a mix of experienced players from their 2019 Women’s World Cup triumph and newcomers, making it the youngest lineup to start a World Cup match for the USWNT since 2007.

Sophia Smith’s goals marked her first-ever World Cup goals and bolstered her already impressive tally of 14 career goals. With her brace, Smith also became the first player to score multiple goals at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Alex Morgan notched her 50th career assist, further establishing herself as a key playmaker for the USWNT.

This victory serves as a promising start for the USA’s pursuit of their fifth Women’s World Cup title. With a talented roster and a winning mentality, they will aim to build on this momentum as the tournament progresses.