Women’s World Cup Roundup: Sophia Smith leads U.S. to win, England scrape past Haiti

It has been a busy Women’s World Cup so far, here is an update on the latest action from this historic tournament across two nations. 

Women’s World Cup Group E: Sophia Smith ignites USWNT to gritty win over Vietnam

United States vs. Vietnam

Final score: United States 3, Vietnam 0

It was not what most people expected from the United States against the debutants, Vietnam to kick the tournament off, but Vlatko Andonovski’s team got the job done. Behind two goals and an assist by Sophia Smith in her World Cup debut, the USWNT collected three goals, three points, and a clean sheet to begin another title defense.

Similar to the Wales friendly in San Jose, the No. 1 ranked team in the world lacked that quality and ruthlessness in the final third. The Stars and Stripes amassed 27 shots, but only six challenged Tran Thi Kim Thanh between the posts. It was understandable with six players making their debut on the world stage. Any opening match of a world tournament is not going to be flawless, but it is only going to get more difficult from here.

With the Netherlands contest up next, it would have been ideal to increase the goal differential a little more. In their Women’s World Cup debut, the Vietnamese packed it in, playing what looked to be a 5-4-1 formation for the majority of the match.

All things considered, Mai duc Chung’s team should be thrilled with the result despite not having any attacking bit whatsoever. Though Alex Morgan missed a penalty just before the end of the first half, she executed a sensational pass to Smith to set up the first goal of the match.

At right back, Emily Fox was one of the players of the match for the United States as she constantly was a threat on the right flank. The North Carolina Courage defender completed six of her seven take-on attempts in her 83 minutes on the pitch.

Andonovski put out a starting lineup that featured Julie Ertz at right center back alongside Naomi Girma, and Racing Louisville’s Savannah DeMelo as one of the midfield three. Coming off the bench, Rose Lavelle, and Megan Rapinoe both saw time back on the pitch. It is tough to read too much into the lineup or even the performance given the opponent, but overall it was a positive first fixture for the two-time defending champions.

Women’s World Cup Group C: Endo, Miyazawa star for Japan as the Asian side obliterates Zambia with four second-half goals

Japan vs. Zambia

Final score: Japan 5, Zambia 0

Futoshi Ikeda’s Japanese outfit only beat Catherine Musonda in net once in the first 45 minutes, but that all changed when the whistle to begin the second half sounded. Like the USWNT triumph over Vietnam, Zambia caused absolutely no threat to a nation that was hoisted the world title in the past.

The Asian powerhouse is now unbeaten in its last seven opening matches of the Women’s World Cup, only the United States, Germany, and Brazil have longer streaks. While Spain was magnificent to open up the competition, Ikeda’s team took advantage of their Group C rivals’ inability to find the back of the net more than three times on 46 shots. Heading into the mid-week against Costa Rica, the Japanese lead the group on plus two goal differential.

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Bruce Mwape’s team was ultra-defensive, but that did not affect the Japanese’s ability to break the backline down consistently. Hinata Miyazawa got things going just before the end of the first half by way of a top-class cross by Aoba Fujino from the right wing. Miyazawa later netted a tap-in in the 62′ to triple Japan’s lead.

Angel City’s Jun Endo was without question one of the many standouts for the Asian outfit. Endo set up the second goal, finished off by Mina Tanaka, and put her side’s fourth goal of the fixture in the back of the net in the 71′. She was also one of two players with 10 or more progressive passes throughout the 90 minutes. The Spanish may be the favorites to come out at the top of Group C, but after match week one, don’t count out the 2011 world champions.

Women’s World Cup Group D: England narrowly beat Haiti, Harder’s delivery, Vangsgaard’s header clinch last-minute win for Danes over China

England vs. Haiti

Final score: England 1, Haiti 0

Credit to 19-year-old Melchie Dumornay, and Haiti for competing right alongside the defending European champions. Not for one minute did the CONCACAF side look like it did not belong on the world stage. Nicolas Delépine’s team created chances, nearly scoring through Roseline Éloissaint in the 81′.

The outstretched left foot of Mary Earps kept the Haitians from shocking the football world, and possibly creating the same type of reaction that Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina in the men’s World Cup produced. On her second attempt, Bayern Munich’s Georgia Stanway netted a penalty for the game’s only goal in the 29′. Kerly Théus saved the first spot kick from Stanway, but was called for clearly coming off her line early.

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It was the third time in England’s last six appearances in the World Cup that it began the tournament with all three points. For the two teams left to play Haiti in the group stage, this is not your traditional debutant. Dumornay was signed by Lyon for a reason. Haiti’s No. 6 is absolutely world-class with the ball at her feet. Even with the win, the biggest question for the English is if they have enough given the key absentees.

The reality is, like the USWNT, this is first game. It is not time to overreact. Captained by Millie Bright at right center back, Sarina Wiegman has one of the most talented sides in the World Cup. They are going to have to figure out a way to be more clinical, whether by a tactical change or a personnel one. Wiegman does not have much time to ponder with the next contest against the Danish outfit most likely going to be the decider for Group D.

China vs. Denmark

Final score: Denmark 1, China 0

A draw seemed like a fair result. Only four shots tested the two stop stoppers with both sides piecing together a shots on target percentage less than 23 percent. China looked to be the better side in the first 45 to 50 minutes of the match, but Lars Søndergaard’s Denmark adjusted. The Danish were pushing much harder at the end of the tie to discover that all-important breakthrough goal. That eventually paid off. Having pieced together some pretty impressive results leading into this world competition, the Danes acquired the award.

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Bayern superstar Pernille Harder sent in a looping corner into a dangerous area in the box. Amalie Vangsgaard, who just subbed into the game in the 85′ executed a stunning header from quite a long way out to beat Xu Huan five minutes later. It is currently the latest goal of the Women’s World Cup so far. Denmark was heading into the fixture yet to have beaten the Chinese at a World Cup. When the final whistle blew, the Danes not only accomplished that, they head into the England game tied on points and goal differential.