USA vs Vietnam LIVE: USWNT win 3-0 as Sophia Smith nets twice in Women’s World Cup opener

The USA are aiming to win the World Cup for the third time in a row in what is Megan Rapinoe’s final tournament

Teary eyed teammates pay tribute to Rapinoe

Sophia Smith scored a first-half brace on her Women’s World Cup debut as the United States got their bid for a third successive title off to a comfortable start with a 3-0 win over Vietnam at Eden Park on Saturday.

The top-ranked Americans have put their trust in the next generation this year and were rewarded with a showstopping performance from the 22-year-old forward, who also provided the assist for co-captain Lindsey Horan’s goal in the second half.

Vietnam were scarcely able to breach the final third on their World Cup debut but goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh dived to her right to save Alex Morgan’s first-half penalty in one of several good chances the U.S. spurned.

The heavily American presence in the crowd of 41,107 roared with pleasure as Megan Rapinoe, who plans to retire at the end of this year, took the field midway through the second half but the 38-year-old also missed a good scoring chance.

The U.S. next face the Netherlands on Thursday in their second Group E game, a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final,

Follow live updates as the USA begin their Women’s World Cup campaign.

Women’s World Cup LIVE: USA vs Vietnam

• USA begin World Cup campaign against Vietnam (Kick-off 9pm ET, 2am BST)
• Defending champions are aiming to win their third World Cup in a row
• Megan Rapinoe is playing in her last World Cup before retirement
• USA are joined by Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam in World Cup Group E

[22 July 2023 03:59 · Io Dodds]

USA 3-0 Vietnam

88 mins: Looks like a nasty injury for Hai Linh Tran, who went down to a zealous tackle from Kelley O’Hara.

Play stops for a time while the ref remonstrates with O’Hara, adding to the now nine minutes of extra time. It’s been a brutal game.

[22 July 2023 03:54 · Io Dodds]

USA 3-0 Vietnam

85 mins: An incredibly close miss for Rose Lavelle, who has a decent amount of space but bounces the ball just off the crossbar. It ricochets directly down to the ground before bouncing off and being shepherded away by Vietnam.

[22 July 2023 03:53 · Io Dodds]

USA 3-0 Vietnam

84 mins: The US relieves Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox, substituting Kelley O'Hara and Sofia Huerta.

[22 July 2023 03:52 · Io Dodds]

USA 3-0 Vietnam

83 mins: A rare spell of extended possession for Vietnam, who bring it up the right-hand side despite heavy opposition until they are forced off the edge of the pitch.

[22 July 2023 03:47 · Io Dodds]

USA 3-0 Vietnam

76 mins: GOAL! Play has barely restarted after the subtitutions when Ertz boots a long pass down to Smith, who zings it back to Horan, who bops it right into the back of the net.

The USA had been able to slowly draw the whole Vietnamese defence forward, meaning Smith was nearly alone when she received the ball. 3-0.

[22 July 2023 03:44 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

75 mins: More substitutions. For the US, Trinity Rodman is off, and Melissa Thompson is on.

For Vietnan, Huynh Nhu is off – oddly gleaning a yellow card for not leaving the pitch quickly enough – and Hai Yen Pham is on.

[22 July 2023 03:40 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

71 mins: So far this second half is unfolding much like the first. The US is continually on the attack, so far thwarted every time (albeit in some cases very narrowly). At the 60 minute mark, they had 20 shots – five of which were on goal – to Vietnam’s zero.

[22 July 2023 03:34 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

65 mins: We've got some substitutions. For Vietnam, Luong Thi Thu Thuong and Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy are replaced by Chuong Thi Kieu and Nguyen Thi My Anh.

For the US, Savannah DeMelo and Alex Morgan are replaced by Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle.

[22 July 2023 03:33 · Io Dodds]

Best pictures from the game so far

Here’s some of the best photos from the stadium in Auckland.

(AP Photo/Andrew Cornaga)

(AP Photo/Andrew Cornaga)

(AP Photo/Andrew Cornaga)

[22 July 2023 03:25 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

57 mins: Yellow card to US midfielder Lindsey Horan for late tackle against Bich Thuy, who seems to be in considerable pain. Play stops for a couple minutes while she’s tended to.