Dream debut and brace for Smith in comfortable 3-0 victory for USA against impressive Vietnam

Smith (in centre) was the sharpest knife up front; Brad Smith/Getty Images

Reigning champions USA have launched their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over debutants Vietnam in a group stage match. The partisan crowd was treated to two goals from American Sophia Smith in the 14th and in the dying minutes of first half, before captain Lindsey Horan capped it off with a goal of her own at the 77 minute mark.

The battleground for the occasion was Eden Park in Auckland, but it wasn't an even affair to begin with, USA holding a firm grip on the tie from the get go, not allowing Vietnam to have a single shot on goal. However, this victory wasn't preceded by a lack of question marks, despite their status as the #1 ranked team according to FIFA, and as a country who are chasing their third consecutive World Cup. 

The squad has been battling through an injury crisis, with household names like Sauerbrunn nursing a foot problem, and 2019 World Cup heroes Rapinoe and Lavelle getting eased into the tournament. “If you look at this team, it’s the first time that this 11 has been on the field together." said USA head coach Vlatko Andonovski, emphasising that the squad have "never been on the field together in a game scenario for one minute". 

Despite the risks at play, USA looked nothing less than a well-oiled machine on the pitch, with debutants DeMelo, Girma and especially Smith showing consistency beyond their experience. Vietnam didn't make the task easier, displaying a hearty and unrelenting defensive performance; starting the match off with not a quarter given, flying into tackles whenever the opportunity presented itself. Vietnam would weather the storm, but not for long, as in the 14th minute, Morgan, with a touch of excellence and simplicity, would slip a backheel to Smith in the box, the shot thundering from her left foot into the net.

Smith’s left foot was an unstoppable cannon; Ulrik Pedersen/Getty Images

They wouldn't stop there, and kept piling attack after another, finding great freedom in the wings, as Vietnam were desperate to crowd the box and choke any attempts at goal, if they could. To a degree it was effective, when in the 21st minute, Rodman, putting one of many of her shifts on the wings, would set up DeMelo for a shot at close range with a cut back, only for Thuong to block the imminent danger. There would be no dearth of chances for the reigning champions, but they would manage only 8 on target shots, out of 27, prompting Andonovski to emphasise that the work in the final third could use some improvement.

One could say that Alex Morgan didn't have the best of days at the office in that regard; one shot inches away from the far post after receiving a laser-like pass from DeMelo in the 28th minute, and especially in the 41st minute, where her attempt from 12 yards would be denied by Kim Tran, the penalty awarded after considerable VAR deliberation. It's hard to think of any positives when you are losing, but to deny the almighty USA from the spot has to be one. The celebrations would be short lived for Vietnam, as Kim Tran would rush forward to clear Girma's cross, only for Smith to punish that mistake with a volley from the edge of the box, the ball slipping through and rippling the net. There would be another lengthy VAR review, as Morgan, duelling mid-air with Tran trying to clear the ball, was being checked for offside, but the goal would stand, the crowd roaring in approval.

A penalty save capped off an impressive outing from Kim Tran; Saeed Khan/Getty Images

Right from the beginning of the second half, Smith would later watch a golden opportunity at a hattrick in her debut appearance slip from her hands, or rather her foot, as a long pass would set her up beautifully for a close-range shot, a poor connection sending the ball wildly off-target. Even the veterans in Rapinoe and Lavelle lacked the clinical edge; the former's volley looping over the crossbar in the 71st minute, while Lavelle's missile of a shot clattered off the crossbar and bounced the wrong way out in the 85th minute. Credit can't be taken away from Vietnam, their rigid, disciplined defending being the key behind some of USA's frustrations in the box. But the inevitable couldn't be denied for long, as a long ball heading towards the Vietnamese box looked to be under control, only for Rodman's raw speed to get the end of the ball, catching the opposition out. Kim Tran would rush towards her in an attempt to smother any shot, Rodman would instead cut the ball in to Horan, who wouldn't miss the open goal in the 77th minute. Before the match could become even more lopsided, the fulltime whistle would come to Vietnam's rescue.

A picture perfect goal for US skipper Horan; Hannah Peters/Getty Images

It was an utterly comfortable affair for the US, and an ideal start to their campaign, but given the expectations, primarily from themselves, the players were not shy from being self-critical, including Smith, pointing out how the team "always want more, we always want to strive for more, but we’re happy with the result." Perhaps it's the expectations, or the fact that they would be facing the Netherlands next, in what would be a rematch from the finals of the 2019 World Cup, and the Oranje won't be as forgiving if USA were to be inefficient with their chances. As for Vietnam, they would perhaps rue the absence of any offensive reply from their behalf, but a defensive performance solid enough to frustrate the top ranked FIFA squad would come in handy, especially against Portugal, their next group stage opponents.