The US Women’s National Soccer Team got off to a hot start in their opening 2016 Olympic match against New Zealand Wednesday evening and never looked back, finishing with a 2-0 victory that was perhaps more comfortable than the scoreline would suggest.
Advertisement
But you don’t need to have even a passing interest in the sport to appreciate the grin that lit up Carli Lloyd’s face the moment she sent the ball sailing into the back of the New Zealand team’s net to earn the United States its first goal in the games.
The American women are off to a roaring start in the 2016 Olympics soccer tournament, but when the men’s soccer tournament begins today, the United States of America will not be there.
Lloyd opened scoring with a header in the game’s ninth minute while Morgan scored her goal less than a minute into the second half at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Those rankings are led by the USA, the reigning World Cup and Olympic champion, which is trying to become the first country to win those titles in consecutive summers. Team USA next plays vs. France on August 6, in what is expected to be the toughest match of the group for the Americans.
“This kind of tournament, there’s no dwelling on previous games, previous mistakes, goals”. Stu Holden, who was a member of that 2008 team and played for the senior team until injuries ended his career, was another player who thrived after the Olympics – and he gives credit to the experience.
In the other Group G match, France beat Colombia 4-0. From there, the tough American defense made it easy on star goalkeeper and Washington alumna Hope Solo, who didn’t see much pressure throughout the night. Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan were at the forefront of the American win over New Zealand.
The U.S. announced earlier Wednesday that its first two friendlies after the Olympics will be against Thailand on September 15 in Columbus, Ohio, and against the Netherlands on September 18 in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.
The Olympic athlete also won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Germany hammered Zimbabwe 6-1, with Melanie Behringer getting two goals for the Germans and Kudakwashe Basopo scoring Zimbabwe’s first goal at an worldwide tournament. That bodes well for the USWNT’s chances to win a fifth gold medal.
Brazil defeated China 3-0 in their opening match in front of their home crowd, with impressive goals by Andressa Alves and Cristiane. Canada still prevented Australia from equalizing and captain Christine Sinclair added a second in the 78th.
The win puts Brazil tied atop group E with Sweden.
Advertisement
It’s an early sporting high for Brazil, where reservations about the cost of bringing the Olympics to South America for the first time have produced violent reactions.
