The U.S. team opened with a victory in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Friday, defeating Vietnam 3-0 at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
Alex Morgan and Naomi Girma, both members of San Diego Wave FC, started for the favored U.S. as the team kicked off its quest for a third consecutive World Cup trophy.
Morgan assisted on the first goal and Girma began the sequence that led to the match’s second goal.
Morgan made an impact early. In the 13th minute, the forward, a captain for both the Wave and the U.S. women’s team, logged what would be a milestone assist to forward Sophia Smith, who timed her run off Morgan’s pass and separated from her defender to slot the ball across the keeper for a 1-0 lead.
It was the 50th international assist for Morgan, appearing in her fourth World Cup and her 19th World Cup match.
In the added minutes of the first half, Girma sent a ball into the box that Morgan headed down to the feet of Smith, resulting in a left-footed shot past Vietnam’s keeper. In the 77th minute, midfielder Lindsey Horan boosted the lead to the 3-0.
Morgan subbed out of the match in the 63rd minute, closing out her 208th career appearance for the U.S. team. Girma, a defender, played all 90 minutes in her 17th career appearance for the team, but her first at a World Cup. Smith also made her World Cup debut.
The U.S. is atop Group E with three points ahead of the team’s next match, against the Netherlands at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
See World Cup Watch Parties, for more information on the Wave’s watch parties and others throughout San Diego as the tournament continues.
The Wave has three other players in the World Cup – Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden), Kailen Sheridan (Canada) and Emily Van Egmond (Australia).
Australia opened with a win against Ireland, while Canada and Nigeria played to a draw. Sweden plays its first match Saturday, against South Africa.
