Sophia Smith helps USA get Women's World Cup defence off to winning start
The United States got their Women's World Cup defence off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory against tournament debutants Vietnam.
Portland Thorns star Sophia Smith got Vlatko Andonovski's side off the mark inside 14 minutes, rifling home from an acute angle after a tidy flick-on by Alex Morgan. Morgan had a chance to get on the scoresheet herself in the first half, however her penalty — won by Trinity Rodman — was beaten away to safety by Vietnam keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh.
The USA did, however, double their tally before the break, when a lengthy review by the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] confirmed Smith's instinctive finish from the edge of the area was onside. Smith turned provider in the second half, seizing on a Vietnam defensive error and feeding the ball into the path of captain Lindsey Horan, who duly tucked the ball away.
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It was an unsurprisingly dominant display from the reigning world champions, who are bidding to win the tournament for a third successive time. A crowd of 41,107 watched on in Auckland as head coach Andonovski handed 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson her World Cup debut, while USA legend Megan Rapinoe also came off the bench to make her 200th appearance for the Stars and Stripes.
The match saw the sixth penalty of the tournament so far — in only the third day — and the fourth to be missed or saved.
While Vietnam failed to trouble their opponents in an offensive sense, a dogged defensive display kept the scoreline down. They will continue their World Cup campaign against Portugal in Hamilton on July 27, while the USA take on the Netherlands in Wellington.
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