Although the Americans scored three early goals, superior talent at nearly every position and a one-man advantage for 57 minutes did not result in a goal. It’s a problem that has dogged the team since the Olympic field opened several weeks ago.
In two warm-up games and Thursday’s match, all against weak opponents, the U.S. team had huge advantages in shots (70-13), shots on goal (26-4) and corner kicks (24-5), but a miserable margin in scoring (4-0).
Hayes and the players say they would be worried if they didn’t create those chances. The popular refrain has been “the goals will come.”
Apart from the first 25 minutes on Thursday, everyone is still waiting.
“I’m happy that we’re getting those quality opportunities,” captain Lindsey Horan said. “We know we have to be better. We know we have to put more opportunities in the back of the net.”
Alex Morgan’s decline in production over the past two years was the main reason the veteran forward was left off the Olympic roster. Her replacement at forward, Sophia Smith, scored against Mexico on June 13. Three days later, the United States dominated Costa Rica but failed to score.
Wingers Mallory Swanson (two goals) and Trinity Rodman were responsible for Thursday’s goals, all with elegant finishes after spectacular plays, assisted twice by Horan and once by Smith.
But opportunities will surely not be as plentiful on Sunday in Marseille against Germany, which began with a 3-0 win over Australia. The U.S.’s inability to beat Zambia by a larger margin could affect the final standings. If the Americans and Germans draw, Germany would be in prime position to win the group on goal difference if it crushes Zambia on Wednesday, while the U.S. faces a tougher test in Australia.
Second place could be a blessing, though. The winner of Group B would travel to Paris to face the runner-up in Group C (probably Brazil or Japan). The runner-up in Group B would stay in Marseille and face the runner-up in Group A (probably Colombia or Canada).
Hayes attributed some of her team’s goal-scoring woes on Thursday to Zambia playing with an undersized squad following Pauline Zulu’s red card. While that seems contradictory, Hayes explained: “Sometimes when you play an opponent who is down to 10 and then they drop down, they start doing different things. You start doing different things. So this is really an awareness thing for us.”
The other problem is what the U.S. team has done with the abundant opportunities in the penalty area. While goalkeepers, crossbars, goalposts and goal-line clearances have thwarted several attempts, the Americans have not been effective enough. Many shots have been at navel height or have not required a quick reaction from the goalkeeper. Others simply have not found the net.
Thursday’s performance was eerily similar to the team’s performance in its 2023 World Cup opener against Vietnam: two first-half goals and a 28-0 advantage in shots, but a mere 3-0 victory. The Americans scored once in their last three games and were eliminated in the round of 16, the earliest elimination at a major tournament in program history.
Hayes may not have all of her attacking pieces available Sunday. Smith, who left the field late in the first half with an ankle injury, will continue to be evaluated this weekend, a team spokesman said. Jaedyn Shaw (leg injury) was not in uniform Thursday.
Regardless of who is on the field, Team USA appreciates the urgency to become relentless.
“We’re not just an athletic team with fast forwards,” Rodman said. “We’re so much more than that. And I think we have to believe deep down that we can beat teams. If that means passing the ball and letting it go and letting the other guys play, there’s a lot more depth that we can bring. Living that and breathing that on the field is going to help us get better.”