🏅 USA thump Zambia, France hang on, Germany, Brazil, Spain & Canada win | OneFootball

All 12 Olympic Women’s football teams are in action on Thursday, including a first tournament outing for Emma Hayes in her new role with USA.

Follow along with us to find out what happened.

Electric first half performance sees USA wipe out Zambia

Scorers: Rodman 17′, Swanson 24′, 25′

A majestic first-half performance saw USA beat Zambia by a 3-0 scoreline.

USA started with real intent, and after some chances narrowly missed, Trinity Rodman showed some real quality to open the scoring.

A run down the left touchline from Sophia Smith made room for a ball to Lindsey Horan, who delivered a perfect ball for Rodman to turn and finish in style.

Horan again turned provider when she slipped in Mallory Swanson, who lifted the ball over goalkeeper Ngambo Musole to double her side’s lead.

It took just 66 seconds for Swanson to score again, this time played in the left by Smith and rounding the defender and goalkeeper to bag the brace.

To make matters worse for Zambia, Pauline Zulu was sent off for tackle that was adjudged by VAR to have prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity just before half-time.

A professional second-half outing allowed USA to manage their energy for the games still to come.

France hang on after Colombia mount comeback

Scorers: Katoto 6′, 42′, Dali 18′; Usme 54′, Paví 64′

Colombia were a tricky opponent for France – on paper at least – having reached the quarter-final of the World Cup in 2023.

Yet Les Bleues asserted their dominance early, with Marie-Antoinette Katoto pouncing on some defensive confusion and a lucky bounce inside the box to net her side’s opener.

Colombia had a chance to equalise when Mayra Ramírez forced a save from Pauline Peyraud-Magnin with a shot from a tight angle.

France made it two when Kenza Dali lashed a shot from just inside the box off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Battling hard, Colombia were once again unlucky when Ramírez headed onto the post.

The third for France came before half-time when Kadidiatou Diani battled on the left-hand side to get her cross in, allowing Katoto to head home her second.

Into the second half and Colombia won a penalty with the dangerous Ramírez was brought down by Peyraud-Magnin.

Veteran Catalina Usme stepped up to take the spot-kick and successfully pulled a goal back.

With 25 minutes still to play, it was game on when Manuela Paví made it 3-2 with a delightful chip.

VAR intervened in a decision that eventually meant that Ramírez received a red card for violent conduct for an accidental stamp on Selma Bacha just as the Colombians were pressing for the equaliser.

Ten minutes of stoppage time was played, and France did just about enough to see out the win.

Germany demolish lacklustre Australia

Scorers: Hegering 24′, Schüller 64′, Brand 68′

Germany put in a strong performance to register a 3-0 win over Australia.

Jule Brand really should’ve scored early on after a brilliant counter-attack, but skied her chance over the bar when she was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

It seemed only a matter of time until Germany scored, and that’s what happened when Marina Hegering rose high at the far post from a corner and headed home.

The Matildas were struggling to contain the physical prowess of Germany and the prolific Lea Schüller doubled their advantage, with a superb glancing header in the box.

It was then time for a superb team goal and a passing move was tapped home by Jule Brand, before Germany had another ruled out for offside before the final whistle.

Brazil register narrow win over Nigeria

Scorers: Gabi Nunes 37′

Brazil edged out a close 1-0 victory over Nigeria in their opening match at the Olympics.

Seleção stopper Lorena was called into action early on, as Nigeria’s prowess in attack forced the stopper to pull off two excellent saves in quick succession.

Oluwatosin Demehin headed over another good chance for the Super Eagles from a pin-point cross, and it was then that Brazil began to grab a foothold in the game.

Gabi Portilho really should’ve scored from close range after a low, flat cross across the box provided her with the perfect opportunity.

It was then that the legendary Marta beat the offside trap and found Gabi Nunes free in the box, and she managed to deliver the finish.

This was a very even game, but Brazil just did enough to keep Nigeria at bay this time around.

Canada labour to victory over New Zealand

Scorers: Barry 13′; Lacasse 45+3, Viens 79′

Canada overturned a one-goal deficit to come back and beat New Zealand 2-1 in their Olympic opener.

This encounter was always going to be fascinating following the spy-gate scandal that saw Canada boss Beverly Priestman unable to take her position on the bench.

And it was New Zealand who took the lead when Katie Kitching crossed the ball into the box following a corner, and Mackenzie Barry delivered with a superb turn and finish in the box.

As the second half drew to a close, the Canadians found the equaliser thanks to Arsenal’s Cloé Lacasse, who arrived at the ball first inside the box and finished high into the roof of the net.

Canada were dominating possession, and after an hour had fired in 15 shots as opposed to just two for New Zealand, before finally taking the lead with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.

A probing long ball forward from Jessie Fleming found Evelyne Viens, whose one-touch finish left goalkeeper Anna Leat completely helpless.

Spain come back to win after Japan’s free-kick opener

Scorers: Bonmatí 22′, Caldentey 74′; Fujino 13′

Spain played their usual brand of attacking football in a 2-1 win over a Japan side who defended bravely for long spells of the match.

It was Japan who struck first as 20-year-old forward Aoba Fujino let fly with a superbly-weighted free-kick that bent round the Spanish wall and into the top corner.

Yet that lead was short-lived and after a brilliant passing move, Athenea del Castillo played an inch-perfect through ball for Aitana Bonmatí to slot home from close range.

Spain’s patience paid off when Bonmatí when played in Mariona Caldentey, and the new Arsenal recruit made no mistake with a curling effort to give her side the lead.

The next Olympic football takes place on Saturday, when the men’s teams are back in action.