The U.S. women’s soccer team had a stellar start under new head coach Emma Hayes in her debut at the 2024 Paris Games.
The team delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Zambia on Thursday, setting a strong tone for their Olympic campaign.
The spotlight of the match shone brightly on Trinity Rodman, the daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman.
She kicked off the scoring with a brilliant goal in Nice, giving the Americans an early lead.
Following Rodman’s goal, it was Mallory Swanson’s turn to dazzle.
Swanson scored twice within just a minute, finding the net in the 24th and 25th minutes to cement the U.S. team’s dominance.
Emma Hayes Makes Her Mark
Emma Hayes took the reins of the U.S. team in late May, coming off a successful stint with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.
In a surprising move, she left star forward Alex Morgan off the Olympic roster, making way for new faces.
Hayes is on a mission to steer the team away from the letdown of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, where they exited in the round of 16.
“This team is past that,” Hayes remarked earlier this week. “We’re excited and prepared to create new history together.”
Not everything went smoothly in their Group B opener. U.S. forward Sophia Smith suffered an apparent ankle injury late in the first half and was substituted by Lynn Williams.
Williams, initially an alternate for the Olympics, stepped in after Catarina Macario was unable to participate due to a minor knee issue.
Facing Zambia for the First Time
This match marked the first international meeting between the United States and Zambia. Despite having stars like Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, Zambia struggled to score.
Banda, known for her impressive record with 12 goals in 12 games for the Orlando Pride and her previous hat tricks at the Tokyo Games, couldn’t make a breakthrough.
Controversy Surrounds Korbin Albert
Korbin Albert’s appearance in the second half, replacing Rose Lavelle, drew attention not just for her play but also due to recent controversies. Albert had previously shared anti-LGBTQ+ content on social media, sparking backlash led by U.S. soccer legend Megan Rapinoe.
Although Rapinoe did not name Albert directly, her Instagram story condemning such views has led Albert to issue an apology.
The match ended on a high note for the U.S. team, but the road ahead will undoubtedly be watched closely, both on and off the field.
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