As far as opening games in World Cup tournaments go, this was a perfect start for the USWNT. It was an utterly dominant victory for the defending champions.
If this were a boxing match, the referee undoubtedly would have stepped in. The US posted an XG of 3.89, whilst having 27 shots on goal. However, only 8 found the target as some profligate finishing from the World Champions ensured this match wasn’t the massacre many observers, myself included, thought it was going to be.
US dominant
Two goals from Sophia Smith, and a goal from Lindsey Horan meant that Vlatko Andonovski’s side got the ball rolling with the best possible start.
From a tactical standpoint, it’s difficult to gauge the US‘ performance, such was their dominance over a Vietnam side whose only really highlight came when Tran Thi Kim Thanh instinctively got down to Alex Morgan’s first half penalty, getting a strong hand to the ball and denying the San Diego Wave forward.
Soph doing Soph things.
🎥 » @foxsoccer
pic.twitter.com/5DcFXF28Kk— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 22, 2023
The US never really got out of second-gear, but then they never really needed to. As soon as Smith latched onto a clever rondo flick from Morgan and cracked a low drive into the net, there was only ever likely to be one outcome. That goal, and her second, which was infinitely less glamorous, as Smith fired home a loose ball in the box, sandwiched the penalty save. Horan added some late gloss as she coolly dispatched Smith’s lay off in the 74th minute. Rose Lavelle almost added another late on, but the OL Reign midfielder saw her effort cannon back off the crossbar.
Worlds apart
The two sides are just worlds apart. For context, the only player in the Vietnamese squad who plays outside of the amateur Vietnam Women’s National League is Huynh Nhu, who turns out for Portuguese second-division club Vilavardense. And, for further context, each of the victorious USWNT squad win 15 times her monthly salary for a single World Cup qualifying win.
The two teams are just on completely different planets.
That being said, the Vietnamese stifled and frustrated the US for long periods. Vietnam brought a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘park the bus’, as their low block frustrated the US. According to FlashScore Vietnam had only 37 attacks (which FlashScore quantifies as entry’s into the opposing half) and only 5 dangerous attacks (entries into the final third). Meanwhile the US scored 214 and 105 in both metrics.
The game was played almost entirely in the Vietnamese half of the field, with the States enjoying 72% of the possession.
Victory tinged with frustration
Still, the US left the field with a sense of frustration. Legendary forward, Morgan told Yahoo Sports, after the game: “I mean we’re happy with the win, but I think we could’ve gotten more goals. I think that’s the point of Vietnam, is to frustrate us. And I think there was ebbs and flows of the game that were frustrating at times.”
The US set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Morgan the central striker. Smith and Trinity Rodman (who won the penalty) as wide forwards. Andi Sullivan, Naomi Girma and Julie Ertz forming the spine of the team. Such was the US’ dominance all three players effectively operated as midfielders.
The States will definitely encounter tougher opposition as the tournament progresses, and their performances levels will have to improve. Still, despite their frustrations, as opening games of major tournaments go this was as comfortable a victory as they come.
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