The United States moved into the last 16 of the World Cup in nervy fashion, finishing as Group E runners-up after a 0-0 draw with Portugal at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The four-time and defending champions would have crashed out with a shock defeat, and breathed a huge sigh of relief when Portugal substitute Ana Capeta’s stoppage-time shot hit the post during a tense finale.
A great strike in the first half from the Netherlands and a perfect set play from the US set up a thrilling 1-1 draw in the 2019 World Cup final rematch in Wellington, New Zealand.
The defending champions were explosive in the early stages as the Dutch struggled to get the ball up field through the United States’ press.
Two first-half goals from Sophia Smith got the United States’ defence of the Women’s World Cup underway with a 3-0 win over Vietnam in Auckland.
But the tournament favourites were wasteful in front of goal, missing a penalty as they failed to turn their dominance – 28 shots to none – into a bigger win against outclassed but determined opposition.
Megan Rapinoe praised “incredible” Sophia Smith for her two goals in the USA’s opening Women’s World Cup victory over Vietnam.
The 22-year-old opened the scoring in the 14th minute and added a second in first-half injury time before setting up the third for Lindsey Horan in a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Alex Morgan is a "global superstar" and it would be "very silly" if she was left out of the United States Women's World Cup squad, according to former team-mate Carly Telford.
The Stars and Stripes head to Australia and New Zealand in July aiming to land a third successive world title, having triumphed in 2015 and 2019, with 33-year-old Morgan hoping to feature at her fourth finals.
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