Lloyd’s goal came just nine minutes into the Olympic opener and Morgan added the insurance goal just a minute into the second half.
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“That was the best way we could have started”, Tobin Heath, who provided the assist that led to Lloyd’s goal, was quoted as saying by Associated Press.
The quest of the U.S. women’s soccer team for gold medal starts by playing against New Zealand.
“I don’t think we get rattled by too many things that we can’t control”, Lloyd said.
US women’s soccer team debut game at the 2016 Summer Olympics earned a solid start in its effort to win a fourth straight Olympic gold medal. Coach Jill Ellis said before the Olympics that she’d be asking more from Morgan. “I thought we moved the ball against a very determined team”.
The chants were repeated after the final whistle.
“I think the toughest (opponents) are going to be ourselves”, said Lloyd, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final against Japan.
For the men, the affair is somewhat lower-profile, with the Olympic Games limited mostly to players under the age of 23.
The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team will begin their quest to become the first women’s team to win a World Cup and Olympic gold in consecutive years.
Last summer’s World Cup in Canada lasted 29 days, a dozen days longer than Olympic competition, and the US had as many as five days off between games. Team USA plays France on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT, also in Belo Horizonte, about 270 miles north of Rio de Janiero.
With her goal against New Zealand, Lloyd is now at double digits in goals for the third year in a row, her fourth with the usa team all-time (2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016). Her present challenge is emulating the success of Pia Sundhage, who led the red, white and blue to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.
Speaking of young players, 18-year-old Mallory Pugh, who delayed her freshman year at UCLA to train for the Olympics, became the youngest player to ever start for the USWNT. She now plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States women’s national soccer team. Morgan took advantage of some nifty passing by her teammates, staying onside near the left post before poking it past the goalkeeper with her left foot.
The worldwide women’s soccer schedule is often thought of in four-year cycles, highlighted by the World Cup and Olympic Games.
The U.S. team which is the front runner for the Olympic gold medal at Rio, early in the second half found itself at the receiving end of abuse from the local supporters at Estadio Mineirao. In the gold medal match in Sydney, Australia, the US put together an excellent performance as Milbrett scored both goals, including a last gasp equalizer in the second minute of second half stoppage time, but a spirited Norway side produced a controversial “golden goal” in overtime to win the gold.
However, no country has ever won both tournaments in consecutive summers, something the USA has a chance to do at the Rio Olympics after winning the 2015 World Cup.
The Americans got off to a quick start in the contest, scoring in just the ninth minute of play when Carli Lloyd’s looping header dropped inside the back post.
The result leaves it top of Group E ahead of Sweden, which beat South Africa 1-0 in the first event of the Rio Games.
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Nilla Fischer scored Sweden’s victor after 74 minutes, bundling the ball into the net with her knee after the South African keeper failed to hold a cross. Shelina Zadorsky was sent off for dragging down Australia’s Michelle Heyman on her way to goal.
