The USWNT defeated Germany 4-1 in the second round of the Paris Olympics

The US women’s national team now sit comfortably atop Group B after an emphatic 4-1 win over Germany on Sunday.

After a few minutes to open the game – which saw a change of manager Lindsey Horan almost end in a German goal in the fourth minute, forcing Alyssa Naeher and Tierna Davidson to combine for a big save – the US join the main side. which was missing from last Summer’s World Cup.

Sophia Smith, who left the USWNT’s opener against Zambia before halftime with an ankle injury, was back in the starting lineup and scored two goals in the first half. Mallory Swanson, who participated in the team’s opening game, scored her third goal of the Paris Olympics. And Lynn Williams, who was originally named another name, but replaced the injured Catarina Macario in the lineup, added the latter in fine fashion.

Unfortunately for the US, Davidson went down with an injury seconds before halftime. He apparently took a knee from the German player and was delayed in getting up, although the media later confirmed it was a lower leg injury, which is an encouraging suggestion given Davidson has recently recovered from an ACL injury. torn. The former defender managed to walk under his own power to the dressing room, but when the TV cameras panned to him as Smith scored his second goal, Davidson did not look happy . The center back has endured quite a few injuries in his career, so his status will be an important story to follow as the Games continue.

Here are the takeaways from the game:

Game play

In the 10th minute, the deadly team of Smith, Swanson and Trinity Rodman was at it again, causing chaos in the final third. Rodman and Rose Lavelle combined to make it 1-2 before Rodman drove towards goal and delivered a dangerous ball into the box which Smith finished at the far post.

This was Smith’s first Olympic goal.

The moment instantly energized the team after a shaky opening minute. And it was another example of Emma Hayes’ impact on the front line. Smith was largely invisible during last summer’s World Cup; under Hayes, his potential was revealed.

Change

Germany equalized in the 22nd minute with a Giulia Gwinn goal — the first the USWNT had conceded under Hayes — after a rare miss by Naeher.

But four minutes later, the Americans responded. Smith showed his strength by blocking a German defender before firing a shot past German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. The ball fell into the keeper’s gloves and Swanson was there to tap in again to give the US the lead.

In the 44th minute, Smith scored again after ripping this one in from distance.

His shot deflected off a German defender, hit the post, and then landed inside the goal line to put the US up 3-1 before halftime. Williams added another goal in the 89th minute to complete a convincing victory.

An important number

The USWNT has scored seven goals in its first two Olympic games, three more than it scored at the World Cup last summer. The US scored four goals in four games last season before being eliminated in the round of 16.

What’s next for the USWNT?

The Americans face Australia in their third and final group game on Wednesday, July 31. The Matildas are coming off a thrilling 6-5 win over Zambia, where Michelle Heyman scored the winning goal in minutes of 90.

The US may be feeling better about its chances in this tournament at the moment. Germany posed its first real test of the Hayes era as the toughest opponent on the Olympic team stage, and the team rose to the challenge.

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He has written for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in the spring of 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow him on Twitter @LakenLitman.

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