A pair of great looks by the US in the early going get nothing on the score board. Banda will be a lot of trouble with her skill and speed as shown already. The first 20 seconds had Horan just miss a sliding ball at the near post. Horan leads Dunn, but too much, a defender send it out about ten yards from the endline they have a throw. Again cleared out by the Zambia defense. Swanson for the corner, as ever a good deal of pushing and shoving in the area, addressed by the ref. It goes to the far edge of the 6 and the GK comes down with it. Smith to Rodman and it is off the post, the US men hit the frame twice over yesterday. Dunn into the area from RVC has their favorite daughter send one just wide near post. I am liking these shots so early. Smith outpaces the D, sends it toward the 6 as her player is crashing the goal but it never gets there, now the US has another deep throw. Swanson again. Again the edge of the 6, not a soul there the GK this time swipes at it, missing. One player should have been there as that is where it went last time? A good look of one of the many Bats on this team, Dunn. Horan goes up, heads the ball then to ground as the opponent caught her in the head. Horan from ten yards, a sliding defender keeps her off the sheet. No pressure and a turn over to Zambia offside the long shot was no issue for Naeher. A 2nd player seems to have gotten stuck in the grass? Rodman tries to play it ahead to herself, the team speed on this Zambia team is tremendous, she loses it. Horan follows with a ball off the cross bar, but into the defender, Dunn started it to Swanson off the cross bar, now a corner. Horan nods it goal ward a defender sends it out over the goal line. Might the US teams be snake bit by the goal frames? Clearly a generous rank of the US being 5th has just been mentioned. Now the camera isolates on the past Iona coach, Emma Hayes. Horan to Rodman a bit of a spin move and finally the team gets one Trinity has her first Olympic goal, this play began with Swanson skillfully keeping the ball in. Despite the double team, Rodman made space and struck it true. 17’ to get one, Lavelle has it in the area, loses it and the throw is coming out. Smith takes a centered ball, drops to Horan, Zambia is in on goal now, a try on goal blocked and the US has it in their offensive third in no time. A pass to not a soul, in white or green. Rodman for Lavelle but just out of reach in the area. A pair of balls played behind the target ends with a shot by Smith in the area. In a recent presser, Hayes stated she wants the players to think in the area not take the quick shot, I disagree and they are not thinking but getting in on goal again and again in the early going. Girma wins the challenge with Banda. Corner Zambia, headed out the off a green shirt, US goal kick. Horan with an unforced error as she plays it too far in front losing it but it is won back. Dunn deftly heads a pass down right to her player they hold, Horan for Swanson, she roofs it 2-0 . A lot of great ball movement and team work got this done. Swanon has another as Smith dishes to her, she is making up for missing the last Olympics with a vengeance, due to injury. A brace in under a minute relatively unheard of in these games. Davidson gets to a ball for Banda first. Rodman left alone. Plays a square ball in the 6 to Swanson, off the defender on goal, stopped by the GK. A nice lead ball, Girma slows, drawing the contact and gets the whistle. Dunn with a curling ball to Smith, she is taken down yellow to Zulu and a DFK, it is where the foul begins that determines the spot of the foul, good call, it was beyond the area., but not by much as she landed in it. Horan and Lavelel poised to take it, now they talk it over, VAR check should not change this. The first replay seemed to have begun out of the area, yes out of the area. The red is valid as it was DOGSO. So the VAR was for the card, great use of it. Zulu with her 2nd card leaves crying, not a tactical foul as another goal would not have been as potentially dangerous as player a player down for just under an hour. Lavelle finds the header but is over the bar. Smith seeking Lavelle on the ground has it go into the defenders legs and over the endline and another corner. Fox cannot keep up with Banda, a player down and handball called for by Zambia, nothing doing. Smith down holding her right ankle. Another about about to come in, Smith is out Williams is up. They play 10 v 10 for a bit. Lavelle lays it back just before across the half then it is almost down the top of their area. Horan gets Williams her first touch and she returns the favor. Rodman with a soft yellow as her tackle brings down the attacking player. Yellow for persistent infringement to Tembo as her arm goes out taking out Rodman as she speeds by. DFK for Swanson, 3 minutes of extra time coming. Finds Rodman, her clear look at goal on the header is a wasted opportunity. The problem with these missed chances is against stronger team, the same may happen. Girma with a toe poke tackle gets it to the GK, no whistle, as it was possibly not on purpose. Rodman from a distance is offside and high anyway. Her foot was flat getting well under the ball, where else would it go? Dunn beats one the next sends it out of touch. Crystal on the throw. Lavelle tracking back intercepts and lays it off, the half ends.
I make wholesale changes, up by, a player up for the balance of the game, get starters rest and bench players early playing time. My focus, the shutout, the goals should come as 3 did at full strength. As for Zambia exploit the speed differences, try and get an early one, put in regular subs.
Lacing the up is Albert, she relieves Lavelle, yet another Gotham player. During the post game of the Mexico game, she gave young fans a hug then her socks, exclaiming “the toes are out”. Dunn seeking out Horan has it taken in by the GK. Another no pressure turnover, Lavelle now alone trying to send a first touch ball out of the air and it was well errant. A 40 yard run and a 40 yard shot uncontested is easily handled by Alyssa. Williams has her crossing ball defending out for a corner, she has a sleeve on her leg. Dunn to take the throw. Even on the ball the Zambia players are faster than the US defense, not a good sign. Lavelle and GIrma trade passes, Fox brings it up and it is lost. Zambia in on goal, great block by Davidson who all but sat on the ball. Fox was down just after her pass, is now up, holding her knee. Back on the ball she seems ok. Horan rocked to the ground on a challenge, very slow to get up, looking for the call. Rodman steals one WiIliams delays, her shot blocked, shot again by Rodman blocked out for a deep throw. Horan to Albert, her first time shot blocked by the legs of the Gk. From the GK to others then back just as deep, enough get forward. Williams cuts it back as it defended out of touch. Albert wins one but not the 2nd tackle. Girma on the floor Banda on goal but too far and Alyssa plays it out of touch. US now has a throw about 10 yards off their endline. Across the field quick and not to the center, this is ok getting forward. Albert lays it back. Now she goes forward to Horan in to the area for Rodman, looks far post, pushes it further, she had a great window to shoot through. Swanson beats three, and goes high on the shot. The crowd is so small you can hear the players talking on the field. Reminiscent of the covid games. Another player is down. Well beyond the area a decent shot with a bit of movement, but that will not beat Naeher. Kruger on for the US with Nighswonger and Emily Sonnet, the last 2, also Bats. Fox for Williams who is offside. Williams on the edge of the 18, the GK right there with 3 defenders. Unable to get it into the center of the area. Fox. Leads Dunn from the endline seeks out club teammate, Williams and the GK grabs it up in tight space. They are getting forward well but need to put it in the net. Fox stuffed, Jenna has her effort blocked. Albert plays it back some 30 or so yards. Dunn with one for her club teammate Jenna for Kruger and they win a corner off the foot of the GK. Batted down by the GK Girma collects, Jenna into the area hit out by the GK and Emily whistled as her high kick sees her thigh strike the player in the head. Kruger brings it over the half then back now Girma cross to Davidson still in the backfield. She goes forward, the US win a throw. US had a DFK from about 20 yards at 76’. Coffey was taken down hard. Jenna over the ball along with many others. Only she remains. I have no idea of why this new things is being done, have a player in an offside position, getting back before the ball contact? The US are of course holding the ball well, but need to add to their goal tally, to not score with over an hour of a player advantage is not a good sign. Great ball movement. Kruger with a decent shot, blocked, offside but play on as Zambia goes the other way. Late foul from 30 yards gives Zambia some hope, nope it goes way back. Williams shows her speed and wins a deep throw. Dunn from Kruger, her headed ball is well wide as she sprinted in. Get these chances and do not finish them next game, Germany, not a good look. With 4’ extra time, I would like to see another US goal? 90’ run on goal but Kruger got back to block it out. Corner for Zambia. Trying for an Olympico, Naeher with a player not far, grabs it right in front of the goal, tailing into it. Albert too many touches then an ineffective shot from in the area.
You cannot be disappointed with a 3 goal win, but an with an hour of a player advantage and no goals to show it with 60+ spots between the two in the FIFA rankings. This would prove I am sure fatal facing Germany shortly