“The first game, there’s always going to be some nerves”, said US coach Jill Ellis after the game.
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“I think on the being recognized part it’s been a tough journey on my end because I feel that I contributed to this team dating back to the 2008 Olympics and Algarve Cups and World Cup qualifying and Olympic qualifying and Olympics”.
The chants were repeated after the final whistle.
“One of the things that I really looked into is why has a repeat never been done?” said Ellis, whose team has lost just once in its last 40 matches. There’s nothing more insane than an intrasquad scrimmage between two sets of players on the national team. In addition to being the Americans’ fourth straight gold medal, it would also be the first time that a reigning World Cup champion has claimed Olympic gold.
It only took three more minutes for the U.S.to breakthrough, this time with Lloyd picking up from where she left off in last year’s World Cup.
The top-ranked Americans also will face No. 3 France and Colombia in the group stage en route to the eight-team knockout round, which culminates with the gold medal match at the legendary Maracana Stadium on August 19.
New Zealand, playing in its third consecutive Olympics, barely threatened the U.S.at the Mineirao, which holds more than 60,000 spectators.
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.
South Africa’s Mamello Makhabane grimaces in pain after being fouled during the opening match of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament between Sweden and South Africa at the Rio Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednes… Les Bleus went to the quarterfinals of last summer’s World Cup and recorded a win over the Americans in 2015.
The Olympics 2016 Opening kicked itself off to an exciting start with Women’s Soccer.
Shelina Zadorsky was sent off for dragging down Australia’s Michelle Heyman on her way to goal.
Canada vs. Australia – 11 a.m.
Germany hammered Zimbabwe 6-1, with Melanie Behringer getting two goals for victors.
The signs are positive, in particular in attack where wonder kids Gabriel Barbosa and Gabriel Jesus, both tipped to make big-money moves to Europe from Santos and Palmeiras respectively after the Games, will support Neymar in attack.
The Germans continued to dominate in the second half at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, with goals from Behringer in the 53rd and 78th minutes. The final score was 2-0 with Canada as the victor.
The women chose an option with more financial security because, unlike the men, most female players don’t have lucrative contracts with soccer clubs in other countries.
Pugh, Morgan Brian, Allie Long, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston, and Meghan Klingenberg all made their first Olympic starts for the team. The New York Democrat, visiting the Winter Olympics training facility in Lake Placid, said the Internal Revenue Service shouldn’t impose a victory tax on athletes who work hard training year-round.
But there was a cause for celebrations on the football field.
Marta then showed her class by creating the second on the hour mark as she skipped down the right before picking out Andressa Alves for a volleyed finish.
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The result leaves them top of Group E ahead of Sweden, which beat South Africa 1-0.
