The 2024 Paris Olympics women’s soccer tournament kicked off with a bang as several top teams secured victories in their opening matches. The United States women’s national team (USWNT) made a strong start to their campaign for a record fifth gold medal, dominating Zambia in a 3-0 win at Nice Stadium.Trinity Rodman, daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, opened the scoring for the US in the 17th minute with a brilliant spinning goal. Mallory Swanson, making a triumphant return from a recent knee injury, then scored twice within 66 seconds, securing a comfortable lead for the Americans.New USWNT coach Emma Hayes, overseeing her first competitive match with the team, expressed satisfaction with the win but noted missed opportunities to further extend their lead. The US team will face a tougher challenge in their next group stage match against fourth-ranked Germany on Sunday.Meanwhile, host nation France also emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Colombia, winning 3-2. Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored a double for France, with Kenza Dali adding another goal. Despite a strong comeback attempt by Colombia in the second half, including goals from Catalina Usme and Manuela Pavi, France managed to hold on for the win.Other notable results from the opening day included Spain’s comeback 2-1 victory over Japan, thanks to Aitana Bonmati’s goal and assist, and Germany’s 3-0 win against Australia. Canada, the reigning Olympic champions, also started their title defense with a 2-1 win over New Zealand.As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the top-ranked teams as they vie for Olympic glory in what promises to be an exciting and competitive event.
Key points
- The USWNT began their quest for a fifth Olympic gold medal with a dominant 3-0 win over Zambia.
- Host nation France secured a thrilling 3-2 victory against Colombia in their opening match.
- Other top teams including Spain, Germany, and Canada also won their first matches, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.
Contradictions👾There is a minor discrepancy in the reporting of France’s victory over Colombia, with some sources stating the score as 3-2 and others as 4-2.
The majority of sources confirm the 3-2 scoreline, so this is likely the correct result.
