Cal Sports Report

Alex Morgan Gets an Assist, Misses Penalty Kick in USA World Cup Win

Sophia Smith scores twice in Americans' unsatisfying win in their opener against Vietnam

Jake Curtis

The United State recorded a 3-0 victory over Vietnam in its opener of the Women’s World Cup on Friday, but it was an unsatisfying win for the team and former Cal star Alex Morgan.

The Americans are counting heavily on Morgan to score goals, and although Morgan delivered a perfect pass that resulted in the first U.S. goal, she did not score a goal and missed a penalty kick in this Group E contest at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

The star of the game was former Stanford star Sophia Smith, who scored both of USA's first-half goals.

The U.S. side was expected to dominate the Vietnam squad, ranked 32nd in the world, and the American controlled the game, outshooting their opponents 28-0. But they managed just three goals and led just 1-0 until the closing moments of the first half.

Morgan set up the Americans’ first goal with a beautiful, one-touch flick through pass to an open Smith, who booted a left-foot shot into the goal in the 14th minute.

Morgan was credited with her 50th career assist.

And another view of that first score:

Morgan had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 44th minute when she attempted a penalty kick after Trinity Rodman had been tripped in the box. But the normally reliable Morgan delivered a poorly directed penalty shot that was nearly down the middle and was stopped easily by the Vietnam keeper.

Alexi Lalas had this comment in the postmatch show: "That was a poor penalty."

Morgan had a number of opportunities to score in the first half, but was unable to finish.

In stoppage time of the first half, Smith scored her second goal.  The USA was originally ruled offside on the play, but that was changed after a video review and the goal was allowed

Morgan left the game in the 62nd minute, replaced by Megan Rapinoe, who made her 200th international appearance for the USA.

Lindsey Horan added a third goal for the Americans in the second half.

The USA's next game is Wednesday against the Netherlands, and the Americans will wrap up Group E play against Portugal on Tuesday, August 1.

Cover photo of Alex Morgan's penalty kick was by Jenna Watson, USA TODAY Sports

Follow Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jakecurtis53

Find Cal Sports Report on Facebook by going to https://www.facebook.com/si.calsportsreport

Published
Jake Curtis
JAKE CURTIS

Jake Curtis worked in the San Francisco Chronicle sports department for 27 years, covering virtually every sport, including numerous Final Fours, several college football national championship games, an NBA Finals, world championship boxing matches and a World Cup. He was a Cal beat writer for many of those years, and won awards for his feature stories.

Home/Other Sports