Sophia Smith had just recorded the best Women's World Cup debut by someone so young in U.S. women’s national team history—two goals and an assist—when she uttered the words that strike more fear into opponents than even the creepy commercial Nike recently released:
“I feel relieved,” she told Fox. “I was a little bit anxious going into the tournament.”
The U.S. beat Vietnam only 3–0 on Saturday (Friday ET) in its first game of the World Cup, squandering half a dozen other serious chances and posing some questions as the opponents only get stronger from here, but the game also provided an answer: Smith, who will also only get stronger from here.
“From day one, I’m a winner,” Smith said shortly before leaving for the World Cup. “I have to win.”
Julieta Ferrario/ZUMA Wire/IMAGO
At 22, she looks already like the breakout star of the summer. Her first goal came 14 minutes into the match, the fastest goal of the tournament so far, when she goaded her defender into a higher position and then pulled away. Her second goal, in first-half stoppage time, was initially called off for offside but reinstated after VAR review. It gave her the first brace by a U.S. player in the first half of her World Cup debut in history. She celebrated by zipping her lips, presumably to silence haters—although it’s hard to imagine who that might be.
The U.S. will not have to manufacture too much adversity this summer as it aims for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title. The roster boasts 14 World Cup rookies and 11 players with fewer than 30 caps, including midfielder Savannah DeMelo, who had just one cap before Saturday. When forward Alyssa Thompson subbed in at 18 years, 257 days old, she became the second-youngest USWNT player to appear in a World Cup, and the first teenager since 1995. This was the first time these 11 players have shared a starting lineup, and at times their discomfort showed. They took 28 shots, but only eight were on target.
Four years ago, the U.S. beat Thailand 13–0 in the opening game, sparking controversy about celebrating as it ran up the score. There was no such discussion on Saturday; indeed, if goal differential comes into play, the Americans may come to regret that they did not take better advantage of a team playing its first World Cup game. The Americans outshot the Vietnamese 28–0, but Vietnam goalie Tran Thi Kim Thanh limited their opportunities to convert, including snaring an Alex Morgan penalty shot just before halftime.
“We created a lot of opportunities and wanted to score more goals, but it is what it is,” said U.S. head coach Vlatko Andonovski afterward. “Hopefully we can improve on that and bring some of the good things we did today when we play the Netherlands. We take everything game by game and that [match against the Dutch] is now our focus.”
Fortunately for the U.S., and unfortunately for everyone else, Smith will be there. And she won’t be anxious anymore.
