The United States' Mallory Swanson reacts after scoring her side's second goal during a women's Group B match against and Zambia on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Nice Stadium at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nice, France. Associated Press

NICE, France — 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 over Zambia on Thursday night, giving new coach Emma Hayes a win in her first major tournament with the team.

Trinity Rodman also scored for the United States, 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. Zulu sobbed as she left the field.

Hayes took over the U.S. team in late May after finishing out the season with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League. She shook things up a bit with her roster, leaving star forward Alex Morgan, a veteran of three Olympics, at home.

Hayes is charged with leading the Americans as they seek to distance themselves from the disappointment of last summer’s Women’s World Cup, when they crashed out in the round of 16.

“If you had asked me at the beginning of the game, ‘Would you be happy with a 3-nil win?’ I probably would have said no,” Hayes said. “However, after the performance and the chances created and finding the back of the net like we did, I don’t want to be too hard on the girls."

Rodman, making her Olympic debut, scored in the 17th minute. U.S. captain Lindsey Horan passed to Rodman, who deftly shot around onrushing Zambian goalkeeper Ngambo Musole.

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.

Swanson called it just a start.

“I think there's little things within that game, within the play, that we need to fine-tune, that we can just keep on growing with," Swanson said. "So I think there's definitely those little things, and we'll address them and fix them and keep moving forward.”

U.S. forward Sophia Smith left the game with what appeared to be an ankle injury late in the first half and was replaced by Lynn Williams.

The United States will next face Germany on Sunday in Marseille.

Evelyne Viens scored in the 79th minute to give reigning Olympic champion Canada a 2-1 victory over New Zealand in a match that was overshadowed by allegations of drone surveillance at the Ferns' practice and later resulted in Canada coach Bev Priestman being removed from her duties for the duration of the Paris Games.

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

After its humbling group-stage exit from the Women’s World Cup last year, Germany got off to a flying start at the Olympics by beating Australia 3-0.

Gabi Nunes scored in the 37th minute and Brazil went on to defeat Nigeria 1-0 in Group C.

France built a 3-0 lead in the first half and held off Colombia 3-2 in Group A.