Fresh-faced newcomer Sophia Smith teamed with captain Lindsey Horan to give the United States a balanced performance as the Americans breezed to another opening victory at the Women’s World Cup.
Smith scored twice as the two-time defending champions beat tournament first-timers Vietnam 3-0 Saturday for the Americans’ 13th straight victory in a World Cup match. Smith, who turns 23 next month and is playing in her first tournament, is the second-youngest US women’s player to score multiple goals in a World Cup game.
Horan, the team’s co-captain with Alex Morgan, added a goal for the Americans, who have won four World Cups overall and are vying for an unprecedented three-peat in this year’s tournament.
“I love playing with Lindsey, she’s such a great player. She has such a good eye for things that a lot of players don’t see,” Smith said.
“She understands my game. She understands the runs I’m making before I even make them.”
Vietnam drew comparisons to Thailand, the team the Americans routed 13-0 in their 2019 World Cup opening game. But Vietnam was surprisingly resilient, kept the game closer than expected, and goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh stopped Morgan’s first-half penalty attempt.
Among the US veterans, 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe made her 200th international appearance on the day.
Vangsgaard winner
In a Group D contest played in Perth, Amalie Vangsgaard scored in the 90th minute as Denmark beat China 1-0.
Substitute Vangsgaard rose to head home at the end of a game of few chances to see the Danes go level with European champions England at the top of Group D.
England beat Haiti 1-0 earlier in the day and will play Denmark next. Haiti pushed England all the way in a narrow 1-0 loss to suggest they could provide a tough test for the other teams in Group D in their first appearance at the World Cup.
Off to a flier
Former champions Japan romped to a 5-0 win over Zambia in their World Cup opener at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, outclassing the debutant Africans with a slick display of pass-and-move football.
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice, while Mina Tanaka, Jun Endo and Riko Ueki were the other scorers for Japan.
Today’s matches
Sweden vs South Africa
Netherlands vs Portugal
France vs Jamaica Live on DD Sport and FanCode
