USWNT win solid victory, but points to be improved in Paris 2024

The United States Women's National Team confirmed their favoritism and beat Zambia 3-0, with three goals in six minutes, in the first round of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Allianz Riviera in Nice. Emma Hayes' side share top spot in Group B with Germany, who beat Australia by the same score.

From the opening whistle, the USWNT showed their intent to dominate, pressing Zambia intensely. Lindsey Horan spearheaded the American attack, leading the team with precise passing and intelligent movement. The US attack was on a roll, so much so that it reached the goal thanks to Sophia Smith's good movement down the left flank. The player found Rodman, who dribbled beautifully past her opponent to score.

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Zambia, although valiant, failed to convert their chances into goals. The African team was lacking in the final third of the field, and the American defense quickly adjusted. Without much effort, the USWNT scored two goals in the space of two minutes. If their attacking power had been lacking in other games, Emma Hayes' team showed themselves to be on the ball, stealing the ball and keeping up the pressure to extend the lead quickly with Swanson, who was precise enough to take advantage of assists from Horan and Smith.

If everything was perfect for the Americans, we can't say the same for the other side. The Zambian team felt it too much, their fragility took over and they created more spaces and became even more complicated, so much so that they lost a player: Pauline Zulu was shown a straight red after the referee reviewed the play on the VAR. The 19-year-old defender prevented a clear chance of scoring. The first term didn't end perfectly for the United States, as Smith went off injured, making way for Lynn Williams, who came into the squad after replacing Catarina Macario in the closing stages of the first half.

Zambia learned from their mistakes and came back more compact for the second half, even making a defensive line of six players. There was a shift in the American defense, and Banda narrowly missed cutting the lead. The USWNT lost some of their attacking power with Smith, who gave the attack mobility, but the Americans kept the ball on the ground and were patient enough to create chances.

Chances. They were created, but the attack failed to score on more occasions. Emma Hayes even gave the team a boost with the additions of Nighswonger, Krueger and Sonnett. However, the USWNT were unable to score more goals and piled up the waste. In the end, the team controlled the match until the final whistle to come away with the important three points.

The USWNT won a crucial victory, showing a reinvigorated attack, but there is still work to be done. Finishing efficiency needs to improve, especially against stronger opponents like Germany and Australia. The three points are a good start, but the performance needs to be more consistent and clinical to advance far in the Olympic Games.

The win over Zambia is an important step, but not enough. The USWNT need more precision and consistency if they want to establish themselves as favorites for Olympic gold. The match against Germany will be a real test, and the Americans must use the early momentum to correct mistakes and improve their attacking efficiency. Emma Hayes has the necessary talent at her disposal, now it's a question of adjusting the pieces and ensuring that the team plays to its full potential. Only then will the four-time Olympic champions be able to reassert their supremacy in the women's game.