Auckland, 22 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The two-time defending FIFA women's World Cup champion United States showed why they were favourites to win it all again with a commanding 3-0 win over Vietnam to begin Group E play on Saturday.

The US was in front of goal early and often, taking 16 shots in the first 45 minutes in Auckland's Eden Park. But just two of them found the back of the net.

"We created a lot of opportunities and wanted to score more goals, but it is what it is," said US head coach Vlatko Andonovski.

Both came from Sophia Smith, who finished off Alex Morgan's backheel flick to her in the 14th minute and deflected a shot through Vietnamese keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh's legs late in first half stoppage time.

Smith's first half performance makes her the top scorer early in the tournament.

US captain Lindsey Horan added a goal of her own in the 77th minute.

Though Vietnam was clearly the weaker side, they were certainly brave in their attempts to quell the American barrage. The defence and Tran put themselves in harm's way over and over. Tran even managed to stop a penalty by Morgan, to the shock of the 41,107 in attendance.

But responseless bravery would not suffice against the four-time winners. The Vietnamese simply had no way through the tough US back-line and could only get a brief look - and not one shot - at goal from afar.

Megan Rapinoe, the Golden Ball winner of the previous women's World Cup, earned her 200th cap for the US as a substitute.

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