United States launched their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive world crown with a comfortable win against Women’s World Cup debutants Vietnam in Auckland.
Sophia Smith struck twice before half-time for the the four-time world champions in front of thousands of their travelling fans in a crowd of 41,107.
Smith, one of 14 players in the USA squad appearing at their first World Cup, fired the number one ranked team in the world ahead with a low drilled finish from an angle.
Her second was awarded following a lengthy check by the Video Assistant Referee for an offside before captain Lindsey Horan swept home the third in the 78th minute.
There was a memorable moment for keeper Kim Thanh when she was mobbed by her jubilant team-mates after keeping out Alex Morgan’s penalty which was awarded for a foul on Trinity Rodman.
Vietnam rarely managed to get out of their own half but they worked hard and produced a gritty defensive performance to keep the scoreline respectable.
Reaction as the United States defeat Vietnam at the Women’s World Cup
More to follow.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
USA
-
Squad number1Player nameNaeher
-
Squad number23Player nameFox
-
Squad number8Player nameErtz
-
Squad number4Player nameGirma
-
Squad number19Player nameDunn
-
Squad number9Player nameDeMelo
-
Squad number17Player nameSullivan
-
Squad number10Player nameHoran
-
Squad number20Player nameRodman
-
Squad number13Player nameMorgan
-
Squad number11Player nameSmith
-
Squad number3Player nameHuerta
-
Squad number5Player nameO’Hara
-
Squad number7Player nameThompson
-
Squad number15Player nameRapinoe
-
Squad number16Player nameLavelle
Vietnam
-
Squad number14Player nameTran Thi Kim Thanh
-
Squad number17Player nameTran Thi Thu Thao
-
Squad number2Player nameLuong Thi Thu Thuong
-
Squad number13Player nameLê Thi Diem My
-
Squad number4Player nameTran Thi Thu
-
Squad number5Player nameHoà ng Thi Loan
-
Squad number23Player nameNguyen Thi BÃch Thùy
-
Squad number10Player nameTran Thi Hai Linh
-
Squad number11Player nameThái Thi Thao
-
Squad number7Player nameNguyen Thi Tuyet Dung
-
Squad number9Player nameHuynh Nhu
-
Squad number3Player nameChuong Thi Kieu
-
Squad number12Player namePham Hai Yen
-
Squad number16Player nameDuong Thi Vân
-
Squad number21Player nameNgân Thi Van Su
-
Squad number22Player nameNguyen Thi My Anh
Line-ups
USA
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Naeher
- 23FoxSubstituted forHuertaat 84′minutes
- 8Ertz
- 4Girma
- 19DunnSubstituted forO’Haraat 84′minutes
- 9DeMeloSubstituted forLavelleat 63′minutes
- 17Sullivan
- 10HoranBooked at 56mins
- 20RodmanSubstituted forThompsonat 75′minutes
- 13MorganSubstituted forRapinoeat 63′minutes
- 11Smith
Substitutes
- 2Sanchez
- 3Huerta
- 5O’Hara
- 6Williams
- 7Thompson
- 12Cook
- 14Sonnett
- 15Rapinoe
- 16Lavelle
- 18Murphy
- 21Kingsbury
- 22Mewis
Vietnam
Formation 5-4-1
- 14Tran
- 17Tran
- 2LuongSubstituted forChuongat 61′minutes
- 13Lê
- 4Tran
- 5Hoà ng
- 23NguyenSubstituted forNguyenat 61′minutes
- 10TranSubstituted forDuongat 89′minutes
- 11Thái
- 7NguyenSubstituted forNgânat 45′minutes
- 9HuynhBooked at 75minsSubstituted forPhamat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 1DÃ o
- 3Chuong
- 6Tran
- 8Tran
- 12Pham
- 15Nguyen
- 16Duong
- 18Vu
- 19Nguyen
- 20Khong
- 21Ngân
- 22Nguyen
- Referee:
- Bouchra Karboubi
- Attendance:
- 41,107
Live Text
-
Match ends, USA 3, Vietnam Women 0.
-
Second Half ends, USA 3, Vietnam Women 0.
-
Corner, USA. Conceded by Chuong Thi Kieu.
-
Attempt missed. Lindsey Horan (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
-
Offside, USA. Lindsey Horan tries a through ball, but Rose Lavelle is caught offside.
-
Corner, USA. Conceded by Chuong Thi Kieu.
-
Substitution, Vietnam Women. Duong Thi Vân replaces Tran Thi Hai Linh because of an injury.
-
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
-
Delay in match because of an injury Tran Thi Hai Linh (Vietnam Women).
-
Foul by Sophia Smith (USA).
-
Hoà ng Thi Loan (Vietnam Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Hand ball by Alyssa Thompson (USA).
-
Attempt saved. Rose Lavelle (USA) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sophia Smith.
-
Substitution, USA. Sofia Huerta replaces Emily Fox.
-
Substitution, USA. Kelley O’Hara replaces Crystal Dunn.
-
Offside, USA. Rose Lavelle tries a through ball, but Emily Fox is caught offside.
-
Corner, USA. Conceded by Tran Thi Thu Thao.
-
Attempt blocked. Julie Ertz (USA) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a cross.
-
Corner, USA. Conceded by Lê Thi Diem My.
-
Attempt missed. Megan Rapinoe (USA) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
