Four goals were scored in 45 thrilling minutes, and Sophia Smith, showing no signs of being affected by the ankle injury she suffered in the season opener, scored two before halftime to give the USA a 4-1 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
A win or draw for the United States (2-0-0) against Australia (1-1-0) in Marseille on Wednesday will clinch the top spot in Group B and advance to Saturday's quarterfinals in Paris. Germany (1-1-0) will face Zambia (0-2-0) in the other match. Two teams will qualify automatically and one could advance as the third-placed team.
“I actually really enjoyed the game,” U.S. coach Emma Hayes said. “The tempo, the high level of the game, the high level of opponent, the high level of tactics, the high level of technical execution on our part. It was a mature performance. … They're a top team, but we dominated when we needed to.”
The front line of Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman has been particularly destructive. They've combined for six goals and three assists through two games. Smith's backup, Lynn Williams, also scored on Sunday.
Hayes described them as “very dynamic and really fun to watch, and most importantly, they were having fun.”
Smith put Germany ahead in the 10th minute, Swanson scored his third goal in two games after Germany equalized, Smith scored again just before halftime and Williams added another in the 89th minute.
“I feel like we've meshed really well, really quickly,” Smith said. “That's just 70 percent of what we can do. The more games we play together, the more we're going to play off each other and learn each other's tendencies. It's a lot of fun playing with those guys.”
The performance came against a Germany team ranked fourth, one place above the United States, their lowest ranking since FIFA began its women's rankings in 2003.
The U.S. was on a roll three days after missing a slew of chances in a 3-0 win over Zambia and then three more in a row.
Smith, who missed the opening goal with an ankle injury in the first half, capped off an artistic display of team possession with some excellent build-up and execution. Emily Fox, Rodman and Rose Lavelle worked the ball down the right wing. Lavelle's pass saw Rodman break free from her marker. Rodman's cross found Swanson running in at the near post, causing chaos. At the back, Smith was on the ball and scored a simple one-timer.
“I'm glad I made the decision to come out. [against Zambia]”I felt good today,” Smith said.
Germany hit back in the 22nd minute, when right-back Julia Gwinn found herself with time and space to slot a perfect shot from 25 yards out, just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Alyssa Naher.
It took just four minutes for the U.S. to regain the lead. Smith won the ball just outside the penalty area and fired a rising shot. Ann-Katrin Berger made a two-handed save but couldn't keep the ball or push it out of the danger area. Swanson was first to the ball and stabbed in the rebound.
Smith scored again in the 44th minute, initially missing a one-touch shot with her left foot, but persevering, she pushed the ball into the top of the penalty area and fired a shot with her right foot that bounced off defender Felicitas Rauch, soared over Berger's head, hit the right post and sailed over the line.
“Sophie doing Sophie things, plain and simple,” Swanson said. “The first goal was really good for us as a team. It translated directly from the practice field into our play. It was a really special goal. The second one, I've seen her do it a million times.” [the NWSL]If she takes that stance, it will go in.”
Germany came on the offensive early in the second half, with Jure Brand hitting the right post and Naeher blocking Scheke Nusken's shot inside the six-yard box.
“We had to weather the storm at times, especially in the second half,” Williams said. “What's great is nobody seemed scared in those moments.”
Hayes was unhappy with the blunder, saying: “There are still some things that are frustrating about us but that's something I have to fix. We could have controlled the game more. Our decisions almost allowed Germany to get back in the game.”
The Americans regained their composure. Smith was sent off to a standing ovation in the 85th minute, but four minutes earlier, Swanson fed Williams on the left side of the box, who fired an angled shot past Gotham FC teammate Berger and into the far corner.
“We're still down by three,” Hayes said. “We've got to get some momentum going. First of all, can you imagine the adrenaline it takes to come back from a game like that? That's my biggest worry right now. You get so high, it's like having a hangover and then it comes down.”
Notes: Centre-back Tierna Davidson was forced off with an injury sustained in a knee-to-knee collision late in the first half and is due to undergo a medical examination in the coming days.
