2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Sophia Smith’s Doubles Set USA On Track As They Breeze Past Vietnam
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
USA Women have picked up their first win in easy and easy fashion against Debutants, Vietnam with Sophia Smith grabbing a brace in 3-0 routine win to set the four times winner on the right track of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team began its quest for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women’s World Cup with a stress-free World Cup opener win over Vietnam.
There was little surprise about the outcome at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand considering the fact that USA are seen as one of the favorites in the competition and it’s expected that Vietnam, who are making their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance would find it hard against an experienced quality side but the only question was by how much the U.S. would win.
Team USA had over 70 percent of possession and outshot Vietnam 27-0 in this win, the highest so far by a team since the competition began.
Unsurprsingly, the reigning FIFA World Cup champions dominated from the beginning, pushing the ball high up the pitch and setting up a camp inside Vietnam’s half. The Asian side had nothing to do but their approach didn’t even last 15 minutes as Sophia Smith broke the deadlock with a composed finish following a beautiful assist from Alex Morgan.
The USWNT could’ve doubled their lead before the half-hour mark, but attempts from Morgan, Savannah DeMelo and Trinity Rodman went either wide or were saved by the goalkeeper.
Vietnam had absolutely nothing to offer going forward, and it seemed their best bet was just to try and protect their goal at all costs, which resulted in prolonged spells where they barely moved past the halfway line.
This is Vietnam’s first appearance at the prestigious women’s soccer tournament and the newcomers proved no match for the veteran U.S. squad which is ranked No. 1 in the world.
The USA had a penalty in the dying stages of the first half, but Morgan failed to convert. Smith then added some gloss to the first half performance by adding a second goal in stoppage time.
Meanwhile…
England boss Sarina Wiegman says her team are ready to do everything possible to win the World Cup and insists the ‘noise’ around her squad’s bonus row with the Football Association will not distract them.
Wiegman’s European champions revealed their frustration this week at the lack of an agreement over performance-based payments, but they have put negotiations on hold for the duration of the competition but with the manager, who has not been involved in the discussions is adamant that her team are fully concentrating on football.
Read Also – Goalkeeping Records At FIFA Women’s World Cup
“We’re here and we have a dream,’ she said. ‘Of course there is always a chance to win the World Cup. We will give everything. You call it noise (the bonus row).”
“When we go on the pitch, everyone is aligned and everyone is focused on football. I haven’t seen any other behaviours, so yes, we are ready”, she admitted.
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