Sophia Smith Reflects on 2-Goal Performance in World Cup Debut
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – U.S. women’s national team forward Sophia Smith is feeling confident after her impressive performance in the team’s 3-0 victory against Vietnam. Smith, who scored two goals in the first half and assisted on Lindsey Horan’s goal, believes that the team’s win is a good starting point for their World Cup campaign.
Smith, along with five other players, made her World Cup debut on Saturday and proved to be the hero of the match. However, despite the convincing scoreline, the U.S. had to work hard for the victory against a disciplined and organized Vietnam side. This effort from their opponents was unexpected, given that the U.S. had demolished Thailand 13-0 in the opening match of the 2019 World Cup, and Vietnam had suffered a 9-0 defeat to Spain in a recent friendly.
After the match, Smith expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance but acknowledged that there is still more to come. She said, “I think it was a good starting point for our team in this tournament. I also know that we have a lot more that we can give, a lot more to do, little things to work on.”
Manager Vlatko Andonovski echoed Smith’s sentiments, highlighting the fact that the team’s chemistry is still developing. He praised the players’ connections and combinations on the field, despite the missed chances.
One notable change in the starting lineup was Julie Ertz, who transitioned from her usual holding midfielder position to center-back. Andonovski revealed that they had discussed the change with Ertz prior to the tournament and had prepared extensively for her new role.
With a focus on improving efficiency, Andonovski emphasized the need for better service to the players in scoring positions. The team failed to convert a penalty, with Alex Morgan’s attempt being saved by the Vietnamese goalkeeper. It was the first time a U.S. penalty had been saved at a World Cup since Mia Hamm’s attempt against Norway in 2003.
Despite the missed penalty, Morgan remained positive and is looking ahead to the next match, saying, “I’m glad that the team put three goals away, and that we’re onto the next one.”
As the U.S. women’s national team continues their World Cup campaign, Andonovski believes that with some fine-tuning, they can improve their finishing and provide better service to their forwards.
The team’s next match will take place in a few days, and they will be looking to build on their strong start and secure another victory on their road to the Women’s World Cup title.