Paris Olympic Games 2024 Football recap- USA stroll to impressive victory in opener - Eurosport (2024)

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A good performance from USA, who look good under Emma Hayes. Of course they do.

Or is that favorites? It'll take a decent outfit to stop them, but I guess I'm going with Spain.

I reckon USA might see this out.

And slides a pass in behind for Kundananji. But Krueger's charged over from the other side of the pitch and she makes the challenge. Excellent work.

And Krueger runs on to it, flipping a cross that's perfect for Dunn ... who hesds wide.

Lose it, then win it back. They've played well tonight, especially in the first half, and have several more gears to find.

Are Germany and Australia; the former beat the latter earlier on. With three teams able to qualify, that's not quite as blinding as it sounds, though the matches should be great; or in other words, it's not getting any easier for Zambia.

So the rest take a drink.

And a couple of bumps and bounces take the ball to Krueger, whose volley is really well blocked. So Kundananji scuttles forward and runs out of steam just as she has to shoot, falling into a curler that Naeher grasps easily enough.

I hope so, because they're very good together - Mahela Jayawardene/Kumar Sangakarra vibes. They combine down the left and though they can't make anything of it because they're surrounded, their link-up play has been the best aspect of Zambia's performance tonight.

Zambia win it, Zambia lose it.

Both sides are still working hard, but the edge has gone. You often get that - a quiet second half after a noisy first - and I'd imagine there'll be some USA players wondering if they really need to disburse a severe beating given they can ease off against 10.

And the ball falls to Fox, whose shot is blocked. And the ball falls to Davidson, whose shot is blocked. Zambia have defended the box well for most of this match - they've just not been able to get tight enough in midfield because USA are very good.

Is Hayes accepting that it's impossible to pretend this isn't over. She preserves her best players, gives time on the pitch - sorry, "minutes" - to others - and her side look very strong.

And feeds a ball into Mupopo, who tries a roulette but can't quite complete it. Mupopo, by the way, competed in the last Olympics ... in the 400m.

Off go Horan,Rodman and Swanson; on come Krueger, Sonnett and Nighswonger.

And leathers a curler towards the near post that Naeher fields easily enough.

So there's a break while she has a little sit-down.

She moves forward at inside-right, steps infield, and joyfully larrups a left-footed curler that whizzes low past the far post. She is so much fun to watch.

USA sweep forward, Horan sliding in Albert, and she thinks she's about to score ... but shoots straight at Musole, who blocks well.

Mupopo eases through the middle then slides a ball in behind to meet Banda's run - she actually had someone totally free to the other side. And just as Banda prepares to shoot, Davidson slides in to unload her; that's a terrific challenge.

But Muchinga blocks the cross behind for a corner which comes to nowt. So Banda counters, but she on the flank and there's naebody anywhere near her.

Rodman dances around her marker, cuts back ... to no one. Then Kundananji drives forward and whams a shot straight at Naeher with Banda free to her left.

Or do they declare?

Or do they try and limit damage?

Albert replaces Lavelle.

USA look strong; Zambia have a problem.

And Rodman is up! But she heads wide when she might've scored, which greatly displeases her. Still, she's had a fair half.

So Tembo stops her with an arm to the face; she's booked.

And is booked.

Williams replaces her.

I think that'll be it for her, precautionary I hope.

If was off-camera so I'm not sure what happened, but it's an ankle-knack.

Chilufya and Chanda G off, Chitundu and Muchinga on. I imagine they'll try and stop USA playing.

But USA make a mess of the free-kick while my system crashes.

And she's in tears, you'll come again, old mate. But she can't have any complaints, Swanson was in; I've no idea why the ref didn't give a red to begin with. Either way, Zambia are 3-0 down and down to 10. Good luck, guys. But no penalty - Zulu took hands off just before the line.

The foul started outside but did it continue inside? The ref goes over for a look, and he's also checking the red card. Zulu is in trouble, I think.

She's on the left and just before she enters the box, Zulu sticks an arm across her face; she does well to escape with a yellow, not a red. But USA have a free-kick on the edge...

Rodman goes down the left, crosses, and Mweemba slides in to intercept, doing well not to make decent contact, as it means Musole can gather.

Oh dear. Lavelle seizes a loose ball in midfield and finds Smith down the left. Her ball in finds Swanson and again her first touch is impeccable, taking her away from the keeper and allowing her to roll a finish into the unguarded net.

This is a fine finish. But the space left Horan is criminal; she's given all the time she needs to curl an outside-of-the-boot pass into the path of the unmarked Swasnson, who takes a touch to take the keeper out of the equation, before ramming a rising finish high in side the near post.

And the cross is good, but Mupopo heads against a teammate and the ball goes behind.

Rodman teases a crosses into the box and Lavelle dives, flinging a head at it ... but can't quite make contact.

Mupopo makes ground down the left and crosses for the onrushing Banda, but her shot is blocked at source.

You can't say it wasn't coming. Lovely work from Smith down the line, keeping the ball in play and escaping her marker. She slides infield to Horan, who gives it one more, feeding into Rodman, whose glorious backheel, through the legs of the defender, puts her in front of goal, and she drills home a finish as Musole advances. This will not complete the scoring.

A cross into the box from Lavelle is too strong but Soubrier retrievers and crosses well, Swanson heading against the bar, then when the ball rebounds, Horan's falling volley looks goalbound, but on the line, Zulu heads clear brilliantly!

Again she crosses, and at the back post, Soubrier turns it back into the middle ... but no one can make anything of it.

It's none of my business where Emma Hayes chooses to work, but I guess I'd kind of hoped she's be the first women manager in the Premier League. She still can be, mind.

Again, it's Fox down the right, she crosses, and Rodman, there ahead of the keeper, helps it over the diving Musole, but her connection isn't the best and the ball loop on to the top of the bar. A USA goal looks a matter of time.

But Swanson's delivery, towards the back post, is handily claimed by Musole.

Come to you from Nice. Not bad, nice there this time of year.

And it's Fox again, but when she crosses Smith can only shoot at Musole.

The Zambia attacker is an absolutely fantastic player, one of the starts of the Tokyo tournament. I can't wait to see how she does here.

Fox drives into the Zambia box down its right-hand side - it's a fne run - and she squares for Horan ... who slides in to finish, and slides the ball wide! What a start that would've been!

And away we go!

Anthem time.

Musole; Siamf*cko, Zulu, Mweemba, Tembo; Chilufya; Banda, Chanda G, Chanda H, Kundananji; Mupopo.

Well, let's have the USA team. Zambia have not yet been as forthcoming.

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