During a 45-minute rush of fun featuring four goals, Sophia Smith showed no ill effects from an ankle injury suffered in the opener, scoring twice before intermission as the Americans stormed to a 4-1 victory and a quarterfinal berth.
A victory or draw by the Americans (2-0-0) on Wednesday against Australia (1-1-0) in Marseille would secure Group B’s top slot and a trip to Paris for a quarterfinal Saturday. Germany (1-1-0) will face Zambia (0-2-0) in the other match. Two teams will receive automatic berths, and one could advance as a third-place team.
“I actually really enjoyed the game,” U.S. Coach Emma Hayes said. “The tempo, a high-level game, high-level opponent, high level of tactics, high level of technical execution on our part — that was a mature performance. … They’re a top team, but we were devastating when we needed to.”
The front line of Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman was particularly devastating. In two matches, they have combined for six goals and three assists. Smith’s backup, Lynn Williams, also scored Sunday.
Hayes called them “dynamic as hell, really fun to watch. Most importantly, they enjoyed themselves.”
Smith opened the scoring in the 10th minute. After Germany drew even, Swanson scored her third goal in two matches, and Smith struck again just before halftime. Williams added 89th-minute insurance.
“I feel like we’re clicking really well, really fast,” Smith said. “This is only like 70 percent of what we can do. The more games we get together, the more we’re going to be playing off each other and just learning each other’s tendencies. It’s so much fun playing with them.”
The performance came against a German side ranked fourth, one slot ahead of the United States, which is at its lowest spot since FIFA launched the women’s rankings in 2003.
Three days after squandering numerous chances during a 3-0 victory over Zambia — and continuing a three-game stretch of missed opportunities — the Americans were on point.
Cleared to play after leaving the opener with a first-half ankle injury, Smith capped an artistic team possession featuring superb buildup and execution. Emily Fox, Rodman and Rose Lavelle worked the ball on the right side. Lavelle’s pass liberated Rodman flashing past her marker. As Rodman crossed, Swanson’s near-post run caused distraction. On the back side, Smith met the ball for a simple one-timer.
“I’m glad I made the decision to come out [against Zambia],” Smith said, “because I felt good today.”
Germany answered in the 22nd minute when right back Giulia Gwinn was afforded time and space to drive a 25-yard shot with perfect placement beyond goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s stretch.
The Americans needed just four minutes to reclaim the lead. Smith won the ball beyond the penalty area and ripped a rising shot. Ann-Katrin Berger made a two-handed save but failed to hold the ball or push it out of danger. Swanson got to it first and stabbed in the rebound.
In the 44th minute, Smith scored again. Initially, she whiffed on a left-footed one-timer. She stuck with it, pushed the ball along the top of the penalty area and tagged a right-footed shot that caromed off defender Felicitas Rauch, took flight, flew over Berger, hit the right post and spun across the line.
“Soph doing Soph things — plain and simple,” Swanson said. “That first goal felt really good just as a team … something that was directly from the training ground into our play. That was super special. The second shot, I’ve seen her do that a million times in [the NWSL]. When she’s getting in that position, that’s going to go in.”
Early in the second half, Germany pushed hard. Jule Brand nicked the right post, and Naeher blocked Sjoeke Nüsken inside the six-yard box.
“There were times where we had to weather a storm, especially in that second half,” Williams said. “What’s great is nobody looks frightened in those moments.”
Hayes was not happy with the lapses, saying: “There’s still things that irritate me about us, but that’s for me to fix. We could have controlled even more. We allowed Germany to come back into the game in parts because of our decision-making.”
The U.S. team regained its composure. Smith left to a standing ovation in the 85th minute — four minutes before Swanson set up Williams on the left side of the box for an angled shot into the far corner past Berger, her Gotham FC teammate.
“It is only three points,” Hayes said. “We have to build the momentum. First of all, recovering from this type of game, can you imagine the adrenaline? That’s probably my biggest concern now. You get so high, the comedown is like any hangover.”
Note: Center back Tierna Davidson will be evaluated in the coming days after a knee-to-knee collision knocked her out of the match late in the half.
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#Sophia #Smith #leads #USWNT #Germany #Paris #Olympic #quarterfinals