WINNIPEG, Manitoba — With FIFA engulfed in corruption and goalkeeper Hope Solo facing new revelations in a domestic violence case, the American women finally got a chance on Monday to elevate soccer from scandal to sport.
In its opening match of the Women’s World Cup, the United States solved Australia’s speed and insistence in a 3-1 victory with the scoring and creativity of Megan Rapinoe and the imperviousness of Solo, who might be troubled off the field but who made three saves in the first half to settle her unnerved team.
Rapinoe scored the first American goal on a deflected blast in the 12th minute and delivered another with a long, dazzling run in the 78th minute.