The USWNT have found their winning formula at the Paris 2024 Olympics: Smith, Swanson, Rodman
Elevate your Paris 2024 experience. Start your Olympic Membership for exclusive content, tailored updates, and a customizable schedule – register now. 🥇
It did not take long for the Americans to hit the ground running in Marseille.
The Germans threatened to break the deadlock soon after kick-off but U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saved the day early on, before her team-mates went down the other end and scored.
It was a wonderfully worked goal as the front three combined from right to left. Rodman’s cross pulled across the box, Swanson faked a run and took a defender out of the game, leaving the ball to roll into the path of Smith who made no mistake from close range.
It took the Europeans just 10 minutes to equalise through Giulia Gwinn, who dragged a shot across the goal and into the bottom corner.
Smith looked to restore their advantage soon after which was parried away, into the path of Swanson who reacted quickest to capitalise on the loose ball.
Just before half-time, 23-year-old Smith added her second of the game when a fortunate deflection helped her effort into the back of the net.
And, when these three aren’t scoring, they’re creating. Rodman deployed her signature ‘Trin Spin’ move to regain possession before playing it into Swanson, who in turn put second-half substitute Lynn Williams through on goal for her first of the tournament.
Six of the USA’s seven goals scored at Paris 2024 so far have come directly from this front three – two goals for Smith, three goals for Swanson, and one goal for Rodman.
Getting the best out of each player in every game of their campaign could be the key to Hayes successfully delivering the goods in her first major tournament with the USWNT.
As of right now, there are very few defenders in the world that could subsidise the threat that they offer.
