USA vs Zambia 3-0: Paris Olympics 2024 women’s football – as it happened

Our live coverage of the opening day of the Olympics women’s football comes to a close with the USA securing a 3-0 result over Zambia.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage, and make sure to stay tuned as Al Jazeera continues to cover select fixtures – including Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

We will be back for that and plenty more, but for now, on behalf of Kevin Hand, this is Rohan Sharma, signing off.

Keep up to date: You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated Paris 2024 Olympics tournament page with all the news and features as well as event build-up and live text commentary on selected football, basketball, tennis and boxing fixtures. Stay informed with real-time updates from Paris 2024 with our Olympics events calendar, medal table and results pages.

Team USA boss Emma Hayes spent 12 years in the English Women’s Super League in charge of Chelsea.

The victory against Zambia marks her first win as USA manager in a competitive match.

The 47-year-old’s side has laid down a clear marker that they will be the team to stop at Paris 2024.

Basketball became an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, although it first featured as a demonstration sport at the St Louis 1904 Olympic Games.

With football already in full swing, the next team event to grab the eye will be when basketball leaps into action on Saturday.

Al Jazeera has put together an all-you-need-to-know guide for the men’s basketball competition.

So after two days of football to get the games under way, the Opening Ceremony will now take centre stage to officially open the Paris Olympics 2024.

We’ll bring you text commentary of the event as a flotilla of athletes and entertainers will make their way down the river Seine in the French capital.

While you wait for our live coverage to begin, you can check out our guide to what we know to expect from the event.

Here’s a summary of all the women’s football results from day one of the 2024 Olympics:

• Canada 2-1 New Zealand
• Spain 2-1 Japan
• Germany 3-0 Australia
• Brazil 1-0 Nigeria
• France 3-2 Colombia
• USA 3-0 Zambia

With this result, USA move to the top of Group B with three points.

Germany also have three points after beating Australia earlier in the day, with the latter sitting in third spot.

Zambia inhabit the bottom but will be pleased to only give up a -3 in goal difference.

USA will face a tougher test in Germany on July 28, while Zambia take on Australia on the same day.

Never out-Foxed. 🦊 pic.twitter.com/WTxlCSsVUw

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 25, 2024

THREE POINTS IN NICE! 🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/4DAA0FfFdn

— U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 25, 2024

Zambia survive further embarrassment as USA are unable to further capitalise on their first-half lead.

USA open their 2024 Olympics campaign with a strong 3-0 showing against their African opponents.

They were easily the better side on the day, highlighted by the 27 total shots they garnered.

Zambia will be pleased with the mettle their defence showed in the second interval and will take some positives in that regard.

USA look like the team to beat in this particular competition, with Spain, France and Canada surely watching on with keen interest.

Full-time: USA 3-0 Zambia

Banda passes to Kundananji up top after the break is made from the other end.

At the very last moment as she looks to shoot from inside the box, the ball is sent away for a left-side corner by a defender.

Siamfuko provides the service, but ends up curling it towards Naeher, who hardly has to move as she collects the ball.

Meanwhile, we will have four minutes of stoppage time.

90+1 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Krueger whips in a cross towards Dunn at the far post on the right side.

However, she overhits the chance, with Dunn unable to latch onto it.

Musole would have surely have been beaten if Dunn had connected.

89 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Arguably their best spell of play so far, they look to probe for a precious goal, but the USA defence are up to the mark.

86 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Similar to what happened to Smith in the first half, the medical staff tend to the afflicted player as both teams take the opportunity to hydrate.

The magic spray is delivered, and it looks like the Zambian midfielder will press on.

83 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Given the stiff competition they face in the group, they will be looking to add to their margin as much as possible as we head into the final 10 minutes of regulation time.

Krueger almost finds that opportunity, but her near-range shot pings off the back of a Zambian defender.

80 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Coffey is taken down just outside the box, left of centre.

The opportunity is from about 20 metres (22 yards) out.

Nighswonger floats one into the box, but the Zambian defence is able to navigate the threat.

76 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Despite the USA players lining up at times for a shot at goal, the Zambian defence has been admirable.

Musole has been a rock for them after giving up the three goals in the first half.

72 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

With the multitude of changes made, USA are attacking with even more intent given all the fresh legs on the pitch.

Zambia continue to rely on the efforts of Mupopo and Banda up front. They have had precious few chances, and are struggling in the final third.

69 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Swanson, Horan and Rodman are ushered off the pitch. In their place come on Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett and Casey Krueger.

Looks like Swanson won’t get that hat-trick opportunity after all.

66 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

It is a powerful effort from the left side, outside the box.

Naeher is well positioned to get behind the optimistic drive.

64 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia

Rodman weaves in from the right side, opening up space for her left foot.

She blasts for goal, but the resulting effort curls around the left upright.

Swanson soon recovers the ball, and has a gilt-edged chance of her own from the left side, but sends the ball over the bar.

60 mins: USA 3-0 Zambia