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Team GB start Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a win as women’s footballers beat Chile – but favourites USA suffer shock defeat

Ellen White scored twice as Team GB began their Tokyo 2020 women's football campaign with a win over Chile

Team GB have made a winning start to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after their women’s football team beat Chile 2-0.

In a major shock elsewhere in the competition, world champions the USA lost their opening match 3-0 to Sweden.

While the Games officially get underway on Friday, some events in Japan started today.

Ellen White opened the scoring for Team GB with a poacher’s finish on the 18th minute before volleying another 17 minutes from time.

They dominated possession for much of the opening period and were good value for their lead, only for rusty forward play to delay the second goal.

White thought she had scored the opener early on after firing in a rebound from a Georgia Stanway shot, but was ruled offside.

The Manchester City forward put it behind her a few minutes later. Good work from White’s club team-mates Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hemp down the flanks set her up to tap in from inside the six-yard box.

Team GB never really looked back and White secured the opening win with a volleyed second.

GB coach Hege Riise said after the game: “In the first 30 minutes, we looked great and then it became a bit slower. We had chances – we totally deserved three points and we kept them away from our goal – that was important.

“We were strong enough to keep them away out of possession, which is good.”

Meanwhile, the USA saw their campaign get off to a disastrous start against an excellent Sweden side.

A brace from Stina Blackstenius and an intelligent header from Lina Hurtig gave the Swedes their second consecutive Olympic win over the four-time world champions.

“We got our asses kicked, didn’t we?” said USA forward Megan Rapinoe.

“I thought we were a little tight, a little nervous, just doing dumb stuff. There’s no time to dwell and think about if Sweden is living in our heads or not. We’ve got another game in three days.”

Both Team GB and the USA play again on Saturday.

Team GB face hosts Japan in a mouth-watering clash while the USA will be hoping to get their Olympic gold hunt back on track when they play New Zealand.