Almost one year since their worst performance at a premier tournament, the Americans arrived here under the direction of a new coach and with a troupe of new performers aiming to set a fresh course in an increasingly competitive environment.

On the eve of the Opening Ceremonies, almost 600 miles from Paris, the four-time gold medalists opened a new chapter Thursday with a display that, at times, conjured memories of their brightest days.

They scored three early goals — a gem by Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman and two in a 70-second span by Mallory Swanson — and routed shorthanded Zambia, 3-0, in the Group B opener for both sides.

It was far from perfect; scoring opportunities were squandered throughout the night. And such shortcomings will not go unpunished Sunday in Marseille against Germany, a perennial titan that claimed a 3-0 victory of its own over Australia.

“If you’d have asked me at the beginning of the game, would you be happy with a three-nil win? I’d probably said no,” Coach Emma Hayes said. “However, for the performance and the chances created and finding the back of the net the way we did, I don’t want to be too hard on the players.”

The outcome was a triumph for Hayes, the renowned Chelsea coach who took over the U.S. program in earnest last month. Her broad ambition is to position the team to win the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, but at the Olympics, a medal is also in her thoughts following the team’s semifinal elimination at the Toyko Games in 2021 and a round-of-16 ouster at the World Cup last year.

It was also a triumph for Swanson, the immensely talented winger who missed the World Cup with a severe knee injury and returned to the squad this spring.

On the team bus to the stadium, Swanson said she thought about being “super grateful of just where I’m at right now and to be a part of this group and have all these girls and coaches and staff around me supporting me and to be able to support each other to try to achieve something.”

The U.S. team’s first game in a major competition since the World Cup marked a turning point following the retirement of Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, among others, and the omission of veteran forward Alex Morgan from the Olympic squad.

While several veterans remain pivotal to Hayes’s efforts, a new wave is beginning to put its stamp on the program. That includes Swanson, Rodman and Sophia Smith.

The Copper Queens, as the Zambian team is known, are ranked 64th — 59 places behind the United States. Down three goals, they played the last 57 minutes with 10 players because of a red card.

The Americans had one defensive objective: Stop Barbra Banda, who in her first season with the Orlando Pride is tied for the NWSL scoring lead with 12 goals in 12 matches. She showed flashes of danger, but the U.S. back line did not bend.

With Banda in check, the United States stormed the Zambian end, only to encounter the same glaring issues that tarnished the two Olympic tuneups (one goal overall).

Shot placement was off, and Rodman chipped the ball off the crossbar. Swanson hit the crossbar with a six-yard header, and Lindsey Horan’s side volley was cleared off the goal line by a defender.

Zambia’s good fortune did not last much longer.

“We were all saying it definitely felt electric,” Swanson said.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute on Rodman’s special goal. Smith beat Esther Siamfuko along the sideline and supplied Horan in a pocket of space. Rodman collected Horan’s service in stride and, with two defenders closing, used a clever touch and spin to free herself and slot home a 13-yard shot.

“Trin Spin, baby!” Rodman said with a wide smile.

Swanson then scored twice in rapid succession. Horan set up the first, from almost the same spot as her first assist. Swanson pointed to where she wanted the ball. Horan delivered. After one touch, Swanson expertly drove a rising shot into the near side.

After the restart, a Zambian giveaway allowed Rose Lavelle to trigger the attack. She sprayed the ball wide to Smith, who targeted Swanson roaring into the box. Swanson danced around advancing goalkeeper Ngambo Musole and scored into the open net for her 36th goal in 95 appearances.

“I was so happy for her to come out and start the tournament like that,” Horan said. “It’s going to give her a burst of confidence.”

Zambia’s dim outlook grew worse in the 33rd minute when defender Pauline Zulu was red-carded for taking down Smith on the edge of the penalty area. After video replay confirmed the seriousness of the infraction, Zulu left the field with her hands hiding tears.

“The first part of the first half was exceptional,” Hayes said. “To come out the way we did — the intention, the intensity, the decision-making, the execution — it should have been at least five [goals] at halftime.”

Despite the player advantage in the second half, though, the U.S. team reverted to early-match form and missed numerous chances.

“There’s not to be a drop in standard,” Hayes said. “However, when you break connections, different things happen. So this is an opportunity for the whole squad to realize, ‘Look, everybody has to make sure that we keep sticking to the game plan and the tactical details within that.’”

Will things need to improve against Germany?

“For sure,” Hayes added. “That’s a given.”

Notes: Smith departed in the 43rd minute with an unspecified injury. After the game, Smith did not walk with any noticeable limp. She will be evaluated in the coming days, Hayes said. … Lavelle left at halftime as part of Hayes’s effort to manage her minutes in the tournament. …

Attacker Jaedyn Shaw was unavailable because of an injured leg muscle. Croix Bethune, the Washington Spirit’s rookie standout, was promoted to the matchday roster from the alternate squad. It remains unclear whether Shaw will return for the Germany match.