The United States got the defence of their Olympic title off to a winning start Wednesday, fighting back from 2-0 down to stun France 4-2 at Hampden Park.
Two goals from Alex Morgan plus one apiece from veteran Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd sealed the Group G points for the US women, who are bidding for their fourth Olympic title in five attempts since 1996.
An entertaining first half saw France race into a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes, Gaetane Thiney firing Les Bleus ahead with a long-range effort that left USA keeper Hope Solo groping at thin air.
Moments later Marie-Laure Delie made it 2-0, capitalising on hesitant USA defending before bludgeoning in from eight yards to leave the Americans reeling.
Slowly but surely however the physical superiority of the American women began to tell and they were thrown a lifeline when Wambach pulled a goal back from a setpiece.
Megan Rapinoe swung in a corner from the right and Wambach rose above the French defence to power in a far-post header.
The Americans' aerial threat came to the fore for their equaliser soon afterwards, Morgan latching onto a long clearance by Solo to score.
Thereafter it was one-way traffic and the USA were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when French captain Ophelie Meilleroux brought down Morgan just before half-time.
The USA dominance got its reward in the second half, with Lloyd lashing in a shot from distance to make it 3-2 before Morgan added her second to make the points safe.
Source: AFP
