Swanson’s 2 goals help USA beat Zambia at Olympics, Canada edges New Zealand after drone scandal
Nice, France — Mallory Swanson scored two goals moments apart in the first half and the United States opened the Olympics with a 3-0 victory over Zambia on Thursday night, giving new coach Emma Hayes a victory in her first major tournament with the team.
Trinity Rodman also scored for the United States, who are looking to add a record fifth gold medal to their Olympic collection.
Zambia suffered an injury blow in the 33rd minute when Pauline Zulu was sent off with a red card and the team was restricted to 10 players for the remainder of the match.
Hayes took over the U.S. team in late May after finishing the season with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. She made some changes to her Olympic roster, leaving star forward Alex Morgan, a three-time Olympic player, at home.
Hayes is tasked with leading the Americans as they look to distance themselves from the disappointment of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, when they were eliminated in the round of 16.
Rodman, making her Olympic debut, scored in the 17th minute. U.S. captain Lindsey Horan passed the ball to Rodman, who expertly shot around Zambian goalkeeper Ngambo Musole.
Swanson scored twice in a span of 70 seconds in the 24th and 25th minutes to give the Americans a 3-0 lead in the Group B match in Nice.
American forward Sophia Smith left the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury late in the first half and was replaced by Lynn Williams.
Williams was originally an alternate on Hayes’ Olympic roster, but Catarina Macario was unable to play in France due to a minor knee irritation.
It was the first time the United States had faced Zambia on the international stage.
Although Zambia fielded stars Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, neither of them managed to break through.
Banda is a proven goalscorer, with 12 goals in 12 games this season for the Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League. At the Tokyo Games, Banda scored back-to-back hat-tricks in the group stage.
Evelyne Viens scored in the 79th minute to give reigning Olympic champions Canada victory over New Zealand in a match that has been overshadowed by allegations of Drone surveillance at the Ferns office.
Viens, who came on as a 67th-minute substitute, received a long pass from Jessie Fleming and placed it in the far post 12 minutes after coming on.
Mackenzie Barry gave New Zealand the lead with a goal in the 13th minute, but Cloe Lacasse equalized for Canada in first-half injury time.
The Group A match in Saint-Etienne was controversial before the start when two Canadian staff members were sent home early for their alleged involvement with drones that were reported during two New Zealand training sessions.
Canada played the opening game without coach Bev Priestman, who withdrew from the team for the game to show responsibility. However, she said at practice Wednesday that she had no knowledge of the use of drones.
FIFA has opened a disciplinary investigation into the matter and Soccer Canada has launched an independent review.
The drone scandal has marred the start of the tournament. Canada won bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics before winning gold in Tokyo.
World champions Spain came from behind to beat Japan in Group C thanks to a goal and an assist from Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
In their first Olympic Games, Spain found themselves behind at the Beaujoire in Nantes after a superb long-range free-kick from Aoba Fumino landed in the top corner in the 13th minute.
Spain may have had flashbacks to their 4-0 defeat to Japan at last year’s World Cup but Bonmati – who has dominated women’s football’s individual awards over the past 12 months – levelled the game nine minutes later by rounding goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
She provided the assist for Mariona Caldentey to score the winner in the 74th minute with a curling shot into the bottom corner.
After their humiliating group stage exit from last year’s Women’s World Cup, Germany got off to a flying start at the Olympics by beating Australia in Marseille.
Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller scored headers from corners in each half and Jule Brand scored a third from close range for the No. 4-ranked Germans.
World Cup semi-finalists Australia were lacking in power without star striker Sam Kerr, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
A header from Hegering at the far post gave Germany the lead in the 24th minute and Schueller rose higher to convert a second goal in the 64th.
Brand had a simple finish from close range after Sarai Linder’s low cross towards the far post in the 68th minute.
Gabi Nunes scored in the 37th minute and Brazil beat Nigeria in Group C in Bordeaux.
Marta, a six-time world player of the year, started for Brazil at her sixth Olympics. The 38-year-old captain said it would be her last major tournament with the national team.
The Brazilian players hoped Marta would win a major championship title, but she failed to do so. Brazil has never won a gold medal at the Olympics, but did win silver in 2004 and 2008.
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AP football reporter James Robson, based in Marseille, France, contributed to this report.
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