FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Three things we learned from USWNT's 3-0 opening win over debutants Vietnam
The defending world champions USWNT got their campaign off the mark with an opening 3-0 win over debutants Vietnam. Here are three things we learnt from their first group game of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Football
The defending world champions, the US Women's National Soccer Team, got their FIFA Women's World Cup campaign off to a flying start with an opening 3-0 win over debutants Vietnam.
Goals from Sophia Smith (14', 45+7') and Lindsey Horan (77') secured the reigning champions three points and a clean sheet in the first fixture of Group E.
Despite a less than convincing win from Vlatko Andonovski's world renowned side - including a penalty miss from Alex Morgan - the US secured a much needed first win as the competition continues to heat up.
Here are three things we learnt from USA 3-0 Vietnam.
1.) USWNT are composed, but not yet at their best
Despite heading into this tournament as favourites, the USWNT haven’t been favored on the injury front.
Having already lost captain Becky Sauerbrunn to injury, Julie Ertz has made a quicker-than-expected return to the national setup and played alongside youngster Naomi Girma at the back for the first time in an official fixture.
Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe are also both fighting knocks, yet the pair got 30 minutes of playing time under their belt towards the end of the second half.
The reigning world champions provided a convincing performance, but it was not the goalfest that fans expected, which is a cause for praise towards Vietnam’s defensive setup.
If the USWNT are to defend their world champion status, they will have to gel quicker and embrace any setup changes that come their way.
Rose Lavelle came on as a subtitute despite not being at full fitness
2.) Expect penalty mishaps this tournament
Although we are only halfway into matchday three of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, we have already seen six penalties awarded this tournament.
The most recent saw USWNT veteran Alex Morgan step up to the spot, but her poorly taken shot was well saved by Vietnam’s Tran Thi Kim Thanh.
Out of all six penalties awarded so far, this was the fourth miss - suggesting that penalties could be a weak spot for some teams in the competition.
All-time leading international goal scorer Christine Sinclair was also denied from the spot in Canada’s opener against Nigeria.
Tran Thi Kim Thanh of Vietnam saves the Alex Morgan's penalty
3.) The future is bright for USWNT
This period of time has been dubbed a transitional one for the US Women’s National team.
As international veterans begin to near the end of their career, fresh opportunities arise for younger talent - and they are yet to disappoint.
22-year old Sophia Smith bagged a brace in the USWNT 3-0 win over Vietnam, which emerges her as the frontrunner for the Golden Boot.
It was 21-year old Trinity Rodman that successfully filled in for injured Mallory Swanson on the right wing, and 18-year old Alyssa Thompson had a good run out in the final 15 minutes of the game.
Despite navigating through tricky transitions, head coach Vlatko Andonovski can be confident in the young quality emerging through.
Sophia Smith scored a brace in USWNT win over Vietnam