The U.S. Women’s National Team’s Tierna Davidson (right) is challenged by Zambia’s Barbara Banda during the U.S. Women’s National Team’s group match against Zambia at the Paris Olympics on Thursday in Nice, France.
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PARIS — The United States women’s soccer team returned to the Olympics, beating Zambia 3-0 in the group stage in Nice.
The United States scored three goals in the first 25 minutes of the game, putting aggressive pressure on Zambia from the opening whistle. Trinity Rodman scored first in the 17th minute, followed by back-to-back goals from Mallory Swanson to establish an early lead.
Zambia played with just one player for much of the match, with Pauline Zulu receiving a yellow card while guarding American Sophia Smith. After a video review, the yellow card was upgraded to a red card, leaving Zambia with only 10 players.
Despite a strong performance from Zambian Barbara Banda, star at Orlando Pride, the U.S. lead was not threatened. That performance may have at least temporarily quelled concerns about the team’s scoring woes in its two pre-Olympic games against Costa Rica and Mexico.
The U.S. women’s national team is a four-time world champion and four Olympic gold medalist. But Emma Hayes will be looking to turn around the side’s poor performances in recent major tournaments, including a first-time exit at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, after taking charge.
The United States’ Mallory Swanson scores the team’s third goal in the U.S. women’s national team’s first group match against Zambia at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nice on Thursday ( Also her second goal of the game).
Julio Cortez/AP
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Julio Cortez/AP
There are also questions as the team looks ahead to the next game. In the first half, Sophia Smith was injured and was forced to leave the game early.
Thursday’s win was in stark contrast to the U.S.’s loss to Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics opener three years ago. Still, Team USA’s road to the Olympics has gotten tougher.
