Soccer World Cup: Defending champion USA, ex-world champion Japan won clearly

The four-time world champion prevailed 3-0 (2-0) against World Cup debutants Vietnam in Group E at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. In terms of result, Japan started even more confidently in Group C. The 2011 world champions defeated World Cup newcomers Zambia 5-0 (1-0) in Hamilton in New Zealand and took the lead in front of Spain (3-0 against Costa Rica).

Sophia Smith scored twice for the clearly superior Americans in front of 41,107 spectators in the first half (14th/45th + 7 minutes). Vietnam’s goalkeeper parried a penalty kick from Alex Morgan (44′). Megan Rapinoe earned her 200th cap as a substitute in the second half but, like her team-mates, missed a number of high-quality scoring chances. US captain Lindsey Horan finally marked the final score (77th).

In Group E, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s team still meets the 2019 final opponents, the Netherlands, as well as World Cup debutant Portugal, a future Nations League opponent of the Austrian team. Andonovski relied on many younger players in the opening game. “This team has never played together like this. It was very positive what actions and combinations they played anyway,” said the coach. “In the second match they will be braver and not so nervous.”

Hinata Miyazawa (43rd, 62nd) scored a double for the Japanese team. The other goals were scored by Mina Tanaka (55′), Jun Endo (71′) and Riko Ueki from a repeated penalty in the 11th minute of added time.