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 03:19 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

51 mins: Missed chance by Horan for the US, going just wide of the net. The ball comes back to Vietnam’s half quickly, but some defensive scrambling gets it clear again.

[22 July 2023 03:17 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

49 mins: The game’s back on, and within the first ten seconds Smith nearly scores another goal. DeMelo takes a corner for the US, but Ertz accidentally heads it off the pitch and Kim Tranh Tran sends it back into the US half.

[22 July 2023 03:06 · Io Dodds]

Sophia Smith shines in World Cup debut

It’s a hell of a World Cup debut for US striker Sophia Smith, and the team knows it.

[22 July 2023 02:59 · Io Dodds]

Half-time: USA 2-0 Vietnam

It’s now half time.

[22 July 2023 02:58 · Io Dodds]

USA 2-0 Vietnam

45+11 mins: GOAL! And what a messy one. We waited for more than a minute for VAR to confirm whether Smith’s rapid slice right through the legs of Vietnam’s defence, after Girma hoofed the ball across the pitch from the rear, was actually a valid goal or not.

Answer: yes: 2-0 to the Yanks.

[22 July 2023 02:51 · Io Dodds]

USA 1-0 Vietnam

45+3 mins: We’ve got eight minutes of extra time, thanks to the numerous fouls and injuries we’ve seen so far. The USA must have hoped to be further ahead by now – a testament to Vietnam’s defensive nous and a vindication of their lopsided 6-4-1 formation.

[22 July 2023 02:48 · Io Dodds]

USA 1-0 Vietnam

45+1 mins: Fantastic save by Kim Tranh Tran and a huge missed chance for the US, as Morgan squanders a penalty kick awarded for a Vietnam foul.

After bouncing it off Tran’s knee, she tries to get it in on the rebound, but the Vietnamese defence is too quick.

[22 July 2023 02:43 · Io Dodds]

USA 1-0 Vietnam

41 mins: A rare near-chance for Vietnam, and some action for US goalie Alyssa Naeher, as Huynh Nhu brings the ball down the US left. But it’s nimbly taken back by US defender Emily Fox, and it all breaks down in with acrimonious jostling in midfield.

For all the pressure from the US, they haven’t managed that many shots on goal yet.

[22 July 2023 02:38 · Io Dodds]

USA 1-0 Vietnam

36 mins: A nasty fall for Julie Ertz just now as she dives to head the ball but ends up knocking it down to the ground – before it bounces up and hits her in the face while she’s still in the air.

[22 July 2023 02:35 · Io Dodds]

USA 1-0 Vietnam

33 mins: Imagine being Kim Tranh Tran right now. She’s doing sterling work deflecting repeated shots from the US, like a player in a rather one-sided game of Pong.

Nevertheless, the ball has spent most of this game in Vietnam’s half of the pitch.