Sophia Smith scored twice, leading the United States to a 4-1 victory over Germany and securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Sunday night.
Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams also found the net for the Americans, who previously defeated Zambia 3-0 in their opener.
This tournament marks the first major competition under new coach Emma Hayes, who took over the team in late May.
“We haven’t done anything, let’s be frank,” Hayes said. “We’ve got three points against a really good German team. That’s all it is, nothing more.”
Hayes aims to guide the team past the disappointment of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, where they exited in the round of 16.
The United States is the most successful team in Olympic history with four gold medals and secured a bronze at the Tokyo Games under former coach Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned after the World Cup.
Smith returned to the starting lineup after leaving the opener with an apparent ankle injury. Ten minutes into the match, she connected with a cross from Trinity Rodman, sending the ball past German goalkeeper Katrin-Ann Berger.
Germany equalized in the 22nd minute when Giulia Gwinn’s long-range, bouncing shot eluded U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
In the 26th minute, Swanson restored the U.S. lead, capitalizing on a rebound after Berger punched out a distant attempt by Smith. This was Swanson’s third goal of the Olympics, making her the second U.S. player to score three goals in the group stage of an Olympics, alongside Abby Wambach in 2012.
Smith added her second goal just before halftime, a high-arcing shot that bounced in off the far post.
Williams, coming off the bench, sealed the victory with a goal in the 89th minute, as fans in Marseille chanted “USA! USA!” in the closing moments.
U.S. defender Tierna Davidson left the match with an injury and was replaced by Emily Sonnett. Germany’s Alexandra Popp exited in the 76th minute with an apparent right leg injury, adding to the team’s woes as they were already without midfielder Lena Oberdorf due to a knee issue.
The United States will face Australia in their final group match in Marseille, while Germany will play Zambia in Saint-Etienne.
