With all the attention the Americans received after their comfortable 3-0 win in the opening game, perhaps the most important moment in Vietnam’s footballing history almost went unnoticed. It happened in the 44th minute: the tournament favorites USA were leading 1-0 at that point, and striker Alex Morgan, whose CV includes two World Cup titles, had the ball ready at the penalty spot for a very uneven duel against Thi Kim Thanh Tran, the Vietnamese goalkeeper, who is just 165 centimeters tall – but threw herself so bravely into the right corner that she took the weak penalty push from Morgan parried.
Eleven Vietnamese women then gathered in front of their own goal to cheer together. Several thousand spectators, who populated Eden Park in Auckland with red flags and yellow stars, joined in. Whatever else may happen during this soccer World Cup, the first in Vietnam’s history: Thi Kim Thanh Tran had set a highlight with her save against the USA, for a very small soccer nation that is not used to the big stage.
Celebration after saving the penalty: The Vietnamese celebrate their goalkeeper.
(Photo: Andrew Cornaga/AP)
The fact that the Vietnamese lost their game in the end and that the result was all too flattering given the 28-0 shots on goal was to a certain extent to be expected. Game one in Group E had been one of the clearest match-ups from the outset, and a repeat of the 13-0 USA achieved against Thailand four years ago at the World Cup could not be ruled out. The Vietnamese didn’t make it that easy for the USA, they played with a defensive order, a lot of discipline and tough duels: “Some teams will try that, that’s the way it is. We had to keep our rhythm,” said US captain Lindsey Horan.
The midfielder from Olympique Lyon brought the game in the right direction from her point of view with a brilliant moment. Horan’s interface pass in the 14th minute sent Morgan straight on to the best player of the day in the best move of the game: Sophia Smith completed the 1-0, scored the 2-0 just before the half-time break and Horan’s 3-0 in the 77th minute also prepared her.
Start of the Sophia Smith show: The American scores 1-0 against Vietnam.
(Photo: Kim Price/Imago)
Smith, 22, is considered one of the biggest talents at this World Cup – but she also represents the issue that preoccupies the defending champion most: do the many young players cope immediately on the big stage? Smith’s performance, however, provided evidence that this is possible. “It was just really good to finally play a game. I’m not usually very nervous, but today I was,” said Smith afterwards, visibly relieved that the period of great unconfirmed expectations is finally over. Having made your first World Cup appearance is important, said Morgan, who experienced the same situation at her World Cup debut in 2011: “Teams and players need time on the field to get into it.”
Coach Vlatko Andonovski also pointed out that the USA had never played together in this constellation: “But the combinations were really fluid.” What was missing with all the joy of playing on the offensive were efficient degrees. That was true for both the youngsters (Rose Lavelle, in the 86th and 97th minutes) and the particularly experienced ones like Megan Rapinoe, who also missed an excellent opportunity after being substituted on in the 63rd minute.
In the second World Cup game, an endurance test awaits the US women
The 38-year-old, who is playing her last World Cup, saw the solid 3-0 win as a good start to the tournament: “I have complete trust in the young players, they are the best in their clubs at home and will continue to cope well with the pressure here.” However, it will not decrease, in the second group game it is against the Netherlands. “We know them well, they are very physical and will challenge us,” Rapinoe said of Thursday’s opponents.
The Netherlands should then become the first endurance test for the playfully strong but not yet well-established USA. Because one thing is certain: A saved penalty will not be enough for them as a moment in football history – for the Netherlands it would take a win against the big tournament favorites, who, however, quickly arrived in a new format. Smith wasn’t much nervous after the start: “I can’t wait to play again.”