Yes, just the 2nd game in on this Olympiad, it may very well have been a must win game, unfamiliar territory for the reigning World Cup winners. Their last time out was not so good, this was a far weaker opponent so it is a better outcome but does not mean in one way or the other that the woes exposed in the game with Sweden have been solved. Gone were so many high crossing balls from the wing, present was much better movement of the ball, well taken shots, far more time on the ball and more. Thought to come out angry, the team seemed very controlled. Australia will be a much better challenge. They may have been a bit anxious as they had numerous offside calls go against them, even costing no less than 2 goals. Throughout this game, they had a good deal of possession, whereas in facing Sweden, they gave up many passes going around and around at times. The subs more than acquitted themselves netting on no less than a pair of goals as the team continued to press. One of the more important things to realize about this game, the Kiwis, they had not played in nearly a year and a half, training but a handful of times. Expected to be in poor condition, they held up well, but the New Zealanders were just not up too the herculean task of taking on the best team on the planet. Thought to be on a collision course with Sweden yet again, the Sam Kerr lead team from down under should help steel them for that match up should they get beyond those from OZ.
Sweden has been quite the foil of late to the USWNT, ties and defeats in recent meetings, a 4 goal swing from their last game, not in their favor. Was it good scouting by the Swedes, poor play by the US?, can't say. It was total domination, I fully expected NZ to play as close as possible to the game plan as did Sweden. The US went to a full press and the game was fairly close for a while, but they slowly began to pull away, never allowing the Kiwis to even get established in any way, shape or form.