In the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) secured a 3-0 victory over Vietnam.
The match took place at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, with an announced crowd of 41,107 in attendance.
Sophia Smith, a rising star in the USWNT, had an outstanding World Cup debut, scoring two goals in the first half. Her first goal came in the 14th minute when she received a pass from Lindsey Horan and slotted the ball beneath the goalkeeper’s legs. Her second goal came in stoppage time of the first half when she capitalized on a loose ball in the box.
Apart from Smith’s goals, Lindsey Horan also found the net in the 77th minute, extending the USWNT’s lead to 3-0. Julie Ertz provided the assist for Horan’s goal.
Despite being a formidable opponent, Vietnam, ranked 32nd in the world, was no match for the USWNT, a four-time World Cup champion and consistently ranked among the top teams in women’s soccer.
With this win, the USWNT began their quest to achieve an unprecedented feat: winning three consecutive World Cup titles, a record that applies to both men’s and women’s soccer.
The USWNT’s next match is against the Netherlands, scheduled for Wednesday in Group E. The match is expected to be a highly competitive one, as it is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, which the United States won 2-0. The outcome of this match will play a significant role in determining the winner of Group E, as the group winner is likely to avoid challenging teams like England, Germany, France, or Canada until the final stages of the tournament.
The USWNT’s victory against Vietnam not only secured them three points in the group stage but also provided an opportunity for their young and inexperienced players to gain valuable experience and build confidence for the rest of the tournament. This year’s U.S. squad features 12 players who are participating in their first major international tournament, and six of the starters made their World Cup debuts in this match.
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, with matches taking place in different cities across the two countries.
