Sophia Smith was one of several U.S. women’s national team players to make their FIFA Women’s World Cup debuts against Vietnam and it will be one performance that Smith won’t forget anytime soon.
Smith started, scored two goals, and registered one assist in the USWNT’s 3-0 Group E victory over Vietnam in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday night. The 22-year-old earned SBI Woman of the Match honors after delivering a sensational performance in Vlatko Andonovski’s squad.
Smith needed only 14 minutes to break the deadlock after sliding a left-footed shot into the bottom-right corner of the Vietnam net. Alex Morgan’s one-time pass allowed Smith to race behind the Vietnam backline before her powerful shot snuck past Trần Thị Kim Thanh.
The NWSL Golden Boot leader doubled the USWNT’s lead before halftime after her right-footed shot dribbled into the back of the net. Smith’s finish originally was waived off due to Morgan’s offsides positioning, but VAR overturned the decision and credited the Portland Thorns forward with her second goal of the match.
After delivering the opening two goals for the USWNT, Smith played distributor on the third and final goal of the match. Smith laid back a pass for Lindsey Horan in the 77th minute before watching the USWNT co-captain seal the shutout victory with a powerful right-footed finish.
Smith won 11/22 duels, made 11 recoveries, and drew a match-high three fouls in her 90-minute performance.
Smith edged Horan, Andi Sullivan, and Julie Ertz for Woman of the Match honors.
What did you think of Smith’s performance? Who was your pick for Woman of the Match? Do you see a successful career for Smith with the USWNT?
Share your thoughts below.
The US is stacked at the forward position. Sophia Smith is truly world class. However, she may not even be a starter if Macario and Swanson are healthy.
Or if Vlatko wasn’t stuck in 2015, she’d be the starting striker and he would have left Alex at home or coming off the bench.
I agree on Alex Morgan, she past her prime internationally, but she does hold up the ball well, bringing others into the attack effectively…..look no further than Sophia Smith’s first goal vs Vietnam, AM had a beautiful back heel, flick into space that put SS on goal
Come on man, Macario is a spot starter at best. Swanson will definitely be missed in many respects by of skill and competitiveness.
Smith is on another level with her improvement in finishing. She drives me crazy when she goes one vs three. However, at certain points in a match she grabs moments where she is the best in the world
Macario, a spot starter? You clearly haven’t watched her play, she’s arguably the most talented player for the USWNT and was Lyon’s best player when they won Champions League. Macario is adept at creating for others and scoring for herself, so to say she’s a spot starter is just asinine. She’s been injured a lot the last 2 years so maybe you just didn’t know
Healthy roster where and who does she start for?
Lyon is a great team in France but to to bottom NWSL has more talent and more competitive