Sophia Smith scored twice and arrange one other as a new-look United States launched their bid to win a 3rd Women’s World Cup in a row with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam on Saturday. One of six members of the USA beginning line-up making her World Cup debut, energetic ahead Smith completed a positive transfer to open the scoring within the 14th minute at Eden Park in Auckland. Veteran Alex Morgan was then denied from the penalty spot earlier than Smith struck once more deep in stoppage time on the finish of the primary half in entrance of a crowd of simply over 41,000.

She then arrange the third purpose for captain Lindsey Horan within the 77th minute, after veteran icon Megan Rapinoe had come off the bench to win her two hundredth cap.

“I think it was a good starting point for our team in this tournament. I also know that we have a lot more that we can give, a lot more to do, little things to work on,” mentioned the 22-year-old Smith.

Vlatko Andonovski’s title favourites missed a hatful of probabilities as debutants Vietnam prevented the humiliation that befell Thailand on the 2019 World Cup, once they have been thrashed 13-0 by the United States.

There is clearly room for enchancment for an American facet who can even play Portugal and 2019 runners-up the Netherlands in Group E, as they purpose to win an unprecedented third consecutive title.

However, this was a brand new expertise for a lot of of their facet, and for Andonovski, taking cost of a World Cup sport for the primary time having changed Jill Ellis as coach not lengthy after their triumph at France 2019.

“Unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on all the great opportunities that we created and that is something we are certainly going to focus on in the lead-up to the next game, but the first one is in the books and the focus immediately shifts towards game two,” mentioned Andonovski.

That can be towards the Dutch on Thursday in a re-run of the 2019 closing.

With Rapinoe starting her closing World Cup earlier than retirement on the bench, Smith and 21-year-old Trinity Rodman flanked Morgan in assault on their debuts on the finals.

Right-back Emily Fox, centre-back Naomi Girma, and midfielders Andi Sullivan and Savannah DeMelo additionally made their first World Cup appearances.

“I have to say I was happy with the way the team played. I think that if you look at the team it is the first time this XI have been on the field together,” the coach added.

“To see some of the connections and combinations was very positive.”

Morgan squanders spot kick

Rodman, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, wanted prolonged therapy after struggling a knock inside the primary minute earlier than happening to have an effect on proceedings.

It was Smith who received the breakthrough although, controlling and ending off a positive transfer expertly after Morgan flicked on a go by Horan.

It was one-way visitors however it remained 1-0 till Rodman was clipped by Hoang Thi Loan within the space simply earlier than the break and the Moroccan referee gave a penalty after coming over to evaluate the photographs.

Yet Morgan, enjoying in her nineteenth World Cup match, noticed her poor kick saved by goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh diving to the fitting.

Instead Smith made it 2-0 in the direction of the tip of eight added minutes within the first half, firing by the legs of the goalkeeper and in after a Girma cross had been punched away.

The purpose was initially dominated out earlier than being given after one other prolonged examine confirmed there was no offside.

Rapinoe, her hair dyed blue, entered the fray to cheers simply after the hour mark alongside Rose Lavelle, the 2 goal-scorers from the 2019 closing.

Teenager Alyssa Thompson additionally got here on for her World Cup bow simply earlier than Smith pounced on a Julie Ertz ball ahead and equipped a cutback for Lyon midfielder Horan to attain.

Lavelle hit the underside of the bar late on as Vietnam escaped with a creditable scoreline on their World Cup bow.

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