Swanson’s two goals lead U.S. over Zambia

PARIS OLYMPICS ROUNDUP

U.S. forward Mallory Swanson celebrates scoring her team’s second goal in Thursday’s opening women’s soccer match, a 3-0 victory over Zambia in Nice. VALERY HACHE — GETTY IMAGES

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Mallory Swanson scored a pair of goals just moments apart in the first half and the United States opened the Olympics with a 3-0 victory Thursday night over Zambia, giving new coach Emma Hayes a win in her first major tournament with the team.

Trinity Rodman also scored for the U.S., which is looking to add a record fifth gold medal to its Olympic collection.

Zambia was hurt in the 33rd minute when Pauline Zulu was sent off with a red card and the team was limited to 10 players the rest of the way.

Hayes took over the U.S. team in late May after finishing out the season with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. Rodman, making her Olympic debut, scored in the 17th minute, assisted by U.S. captain Lindsey Horan.

Swanson scored twice within 70 seconds in the 24th and 25th minutes to give the Americans a 3-0 lead in the Group B match in Nice.

Canada 2, New Zealand 1 >> Evelyne Viens scored in the 79th minute to give reigning Olympic champion Canada the victory in a match that was overshadowed by allegations of drone surveillance at the Ferns’ practice.

Viens, who came into the match as a substitute in the 67th, took a long pass from Jessie Fleming and tucked it into the goal at the opposite post 12 minutes after entering.

Mackenzie Barry gave New Zealand the early lead with a goal in the 13th minute, but Cloe Lacasse equalized for Canada in first-half stoppage time.

The Group A match in Saint-Etienne was controversial before the start when two Canada staffers were sent home early for their alleged involvement with drones that were reported over a pair of New Zealand’s practices.

Canada played the opener without coach Bev Priestman, who stepped away from the team for the match to show accountability.

Spain 2, Japan 1 >> World champion Spain came from behind in Group C thanks to a goal and an assist from Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.

Aoba Fumino gave Japan a lead in the 13th minute. Bonmati — who has dominated the individual awards in women’s soccer over the past 12 months — tied the game nine minutes beating goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita. She then provided the assist as Mariona Caldentey scored the winner in the 74th.

Germany 3, Australia 0 >> Marina Hegering and Lea Schueller scored headers in either half and Jule Brand fired in a third for Germany.

Brazil 1, Nigeria 0 >> Gabi Nunes scored in the 37th minute for Brazil. Marta, 38, a six-time world player of the year, started for Brazil in her sixth and final Olympics.

Rugby Sevens

Perry Baker scored 20 points and converted four tries as the U.S. beat Uruguay 33-17 in the final round of group play early Thursday. It didn’t go as well for the American’s later in the day, when they were knocked out by Australia 18-0 in a quarterfinal.

Archery

American and world record-holder Brady Ellison of Arizona placed seventh in the rankings round on Thursday with 677 points. Olympic record holder Woojin Kim from the Republic of Korea had the top overall score of 686. Brady and Kim, the only two archers ever to exceed 700 points from 72 arrows at 70 meters, advance to the round of 32 next week.