Smith brace powers USWNT past Germans in second Olympic match

In the highly anticipated battle between two of the world's women's footballing powerhouses, Emma Hayes' USWNT have prevailed over Horst Hrubesch's Frauen-Nationalmannschaft with a 4-1 win in the second of three Olympic group stage fixtures. Though the Germans didn't necessarily play as badly as the 4-1 scoreline might suggest, an uneven performance with several critical mistakes can leave them with few complaints. 

Hrubesch was forced to make one change to the XI that dismantled Australia in the opening group stage fixture. Left back Sarai Linder being unavailable due to a viral infection forced the Bundestrainer to dip into his reserve pool. North Carolina Courage fullback Felicitas Rauch - one of the four reserves permitted to be called up to the roster - thus reprised her role as the team's starting left back. All other DFB actors remained in place, locked into the same 4-2-3-1 formation. 

The Germans began the match full of courage and confidence. The on-fire Jule Brand went on an enterprising dribble in the 4th and picked out Lea Schüller in a promising position. Unfortunately, Schüller's finish left something to be desired and USWNT keeper Alyssa Naeher was able to make the save. The DFB-Mädels continued to dominate through the opening ten minutes until Hayes' team began taking stabs at Rauch on the left. 

Rauch found herself unable to cope with the speedy duo of Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn. The pair combined past Rauch twice in a two-minute-span. Sophia Smith polished off Rodman's cross in the 10th to give the U.S. Girls a 1-0 lead. The Germans appeared rattled at first, but were able to net a largely deserved equalizer in the 21st. 

Rauch was able to work a useful cross in for DFB-captain Alexandra Popp. The German skipper bravely worked the ball on just before absorbing a hard tackle. The sequence concluded with Sjoeke Nüskens cutting back for an onrushing Giulia Gwinn. The FC Bayern star buried the 1-1 with a powerful finish from the second ranks. 

It nevertheless wasn't long before the USWNT retook the lead. Newly installed German #1 Ann-Kathrin Berger did well enough to stop a quick fire distance effort from Smith, but was unable to fully grip the ball. Mallory Swanson stuffed home the rebound for the 26th-minute 2-1. Gwinn made a stellar bid to equalize again in the 33rd, yet couldn't keep her shot down. 

Shortly before half-time, a series of defensive lapses made matters much worse for Hrubesch's team. A poor clearance from Popp, a missed mark from Klara Bühl, and a deflection in off Rauch enabled Smith to score her second goal of the night. After the 3-1 in the 44th, Nüskens regrettably missed a potential pull-back goal with a headed effort wide at 45+6.

Hrubesch left the team unchanged at the break. After some tentative attempts to move forward, Gwinn finally got the squad rolling again with an audacious forward rush in the 58th Brand crashed a shot off the post at the end of the play. The Americans nearly scored on a quick rush back the other way. Swanson pushed an effort wide in the 59th after a scramble up front. 

Just as he did on Thursday, Hrubesch eventually replaced Nüskens with Sydney Lohmann. The 24-year-old FCB professional served as the first German substitution in the 68th. Captain Popp - due to an apparent serious knee injury - had to exit proceedings some nine minutes later. A risker approach from the DFB-Mädels down the stretch only accorded the Americans more chances on the counter. 

Berger managed to prevent Rodman from the scoring the 4-1 with an excellent stop in the 84th. Berger found herself powerless against the just subbed on Lydia Williams in the 89th, however. Rodman and Swanson were involved in the build-up play following a Bühl ball loss in midfield. Matters wrapped up with Hayes' team earning a deserved three-goal victory.