USWNT bounce back with 6-1 win over New Zealand

The USWNT opened their Olympic account on Saturday, besting New Zealand 6-1.

Goals from Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Christen Press and Alex Morgan provided an emphatic response to the team’s 3-0 shutout against Sweden on Wednesday.

There were five changes in the USWNT’s starting 11 from the squad’s Olympic opener, with Emily Sonnett replacing Kelley O’Hara, Tierna Davidson starting in Becky Sauerbrunn’s place, Julie Ertz coming on for Samantha Mewis and Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd replacing Alex Morgan and Christen Press up top.

Lavelle struck first for the United States, slotting home the go-ahead goal in the 9^th minute. The team didn’t find the back of the net again until the 45^th minute, when Horan nodded in a header from Julie Ertz. Horan’s goal came in her 100^th cap for the USWNT.

100th cap? Celebrate with a goal, @LindseyHoran! ⚽️@TeamUSA x @USWNT

🇺🇸 2 - 0 🇳🇿 | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/GkrNUPHPtw

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 24, 2021

After the break, the USWNT really started rolling with the team forcing two own goals and Morgan and Press scoring two of their own in the game’s closing third.

67’ Subbed on
80’ Goal
88’ Assist
93’ Assist

Christen Press was ready 🔥 (via @TelemundoSports)pic.twitter.com/CZK6z8srww

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 24, 2021

The team will face off against Australia in their final and decisive Group G matchup on Tuesday.