USA 3-0 Zambia: Mallory Swanson nets quickfire double to guide Emma Hayes' team to comfortable Olympics win

Three goals in 10 first-half minutes – Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson (2) the scorers – saw USA ease to a 3-0 victory over Zambia in their 2024 Paris Olympic Games opener.

They join Germany, who beat Australia earlier in the day, at the top of Group B and, under new manager Emma Hayes, look like gold-medal contenders.

USA were at Zambia from the off, hitting the bar twice prior to taking the lead on 17 minutes, Rodman’s beautiful touch enabling her to slot home.

Nor did Hayes’ side let up, two further goals in three first-half minutes effectively settling the match, Swanson scoring both to put USA clear.

And if Zambia weren’t in enough trouble, on 34 minutes Pauline Zulu was sent off for a professional foul on Swanson, meaning her side were not only three goals down, but a player down too.

USA, though, eased off in the second half, Hayes removing her best players, while Zambia were more solid in the middle of the pitch, allowing Barbra Banda to threaten.

But the outcome was never in doubt, and American momentum is building.

It’s not difficult to see USA as potential gold medalists. They have one of the best managers in the world, and in Lindsey Horan, Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, an attack that is downright nasty.

What, though was also impressive against Zambia was their defensive work. Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji are fine players, who were able to find space and get on the ball, but almost every time they seriously threatened, they were thwarted by a block or surrounded.

This is not just a facility of talent or even organisation, but of desire, mentality and hunger. It will take a good side to stop Emma Hayes’ outfit – and luckily for us, there are a fair few of them.

Scored a lovely goal and generally did whatever she fancied.

USA: Naeher 6, Fox 7, Girma 6, Davidson 7, Dunn 6, Lavelle 7, Coffey 6, Rodman 8, Horan 7, Smith 7, Swanson 8. Subs: Williams 7, Albert 7, Krueger 7, Nighswonger 6, Sonnett 6.

Zambia: Musole 6, Tembo 6, Mweemba 6, Zulu 6, Siamfuko 6, Kundanjani 7, Chanda G 5, Chanda H 5, Chilufya 5, Banda 7, Mupopo 6. Subs: Chitundu 6, Muchinga 6.

16' GOAL! USA 1-0 Zambia (Rodman): You can't say it wasn't coming. Lovely work from Smith down the line, keeping the ball in play and escaping her marker. She slides infield to Horan, he gives it one more, feeding into Rodman, whose glorious backheel, through the legs of the defender, puts her in front of goal, and she drills home a finish as Musole advances. This will not complete the scoring.

24' GOAL! USA 2-0 Zambia (Swanson): This is a fine finish. But the space left Horan is criminal; she's given all the time she needs to curl an outside-of-the-boot pass into the path of the unmarked Swasnson, who takes a touch to take the keeper out of the equation, before ramming a rising finish high in side the near post.

26' GOAL! USA 3-0 Zambia (Swanson): Oh dear. Lavelle seizes a loose ball in midfield and finds Smith down the left. Her ball in finds Swanson and again her first touch is impeccable, taking her away from the keeper and allowing her to roll a finish into the unguarded net.

30' Swanson is through again! She's on the left and just before she enters the box, Zulu sticks an arm across her face; she does well to escape with a yellow, not a red. But USA have a free-kick on the edge…

32' Oooh they're checking to see if the foul was inside the box: The foul started outside but did it continue inside? The ref goes over for a look, and he's also checking the red card. Zulu is in trouble, I think.

34' Pauline Zulu is sent off! And she's in tears, you'll come again, old mate. But she can't have any complaints, Swanson was in; I've no idea why the ref didn't give a red to begin with.

USA have won gold on four occasions. No other country has done so more than once.

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