MADRID, 22 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Japanese soccer team thrashed Zambia 0-5 this Saturday on the third day of the Women’s World Cup, which is being held in New Zealand and Australia, while a double by Sophia Smith led to the United States’ victory over Vietnam (3-0) and England and Denmark also became group leaders after winning by the minimum, respectively, Haiti and China.
The day opened with a clear American victory against an opponent who did not shoot in the entire game, neither on goal nor off. With such a difference in quality, it was a matter of time before the US opened the scoring. And he did it on the verge of reaching a quarter of an hour, thanks to a good combination between Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith.
After receiving the backheeled ball from her partner, Smith scored with a low shot under the Vietnamese goalkeeper. Although Alex Morgan herself missed a penalty near half-time, the North American team extended their lead almost immediately. Benefiting from a poor start from Thi Kim Thanh Tran, Smith pushed uncertainly for 2-0.
In the 77th minute, Lindsey Horan sealed the game at 3-0, after Smith had stolen a ball on the right side of the box. While waiting for the Netherlands and Portugal to play this Sunday (9:30 a.m.), the US team easily placed themselves as the leader of Group E.
Later it was the turn of Zambia and Japan to complete day 1 in Group C, where Spain is also located. The Zambians also remained without shooting throughout the match, neither on goal nor outside. However, it was difficult for the Japanese to open the ‘can’, since on minute 21 they saw a goal disallowed for offside by Mina Tanaka.
The 0-1 was the work of Hinata Miyazawa on the brink of half-time, finishing off a cross from Aoba Fujino, a span from the pitch, from the right wing. There was another goal disallowed by Tanaka, again for offside, early in the second half; but he got rid of that thorn with the 0-2 at 55 ‘, pushing a low cross from Jun Endo from the left side.
Miyazawa signed his double with the 0-3 after 62 ‘, following an individual play by the omnipresent Tanaka on the baseline. Endo scored Japan’s fourth goal in the 71st minute, defining with his left foot a swift attack by his band, and the ‘little hand’ was signed in the very long added time, with Riko Ueki transforming a penalty that had to be repeated.
ENGLISH AND DANISH WIN BY THE MINIMUM
On the other hand, Group D was inaugurated with the 1-0 of England against Haiti. Despite the greater biting of the English, the only goal of the game came from a penalty converted by Georgia Stanway after half an hour. Batcheba Louis had committed it by touching the ball with the fingers of one hand in a center pumped into the Haitian area.
The other confrontation in the same group was resolved in the 90th minute, based on a header from Amalie Vangsgaard from a corner. Her shot, made from a distance beyond 10 meters from the goal line, surprised the rival goalkeeper. Thus, the Danes share the group leadership with England, both teams wearing three points.