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Sophia Smith becomes youngest-ever U.S. player to accomplish this feat
Sophia Smith of the USA celebrates after scoring the opening goal (1-0) during the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup. Sports Press Photo

Sophia Smith becomes youngest-ever U.S. player to accomplish this feat

In a game where Megan Rapinoe made her 200th appearance for the United States, it was a World Cup rookie who shone brightest for the U.S. in their tournament-opening 3-0 win over Vietnam on Friday.

Playing in her first-ever World Cup match, 22-year-old Sophia Smith scored in the 14th minute and again in the seventh minute of first-half extra time to give the U.S. a lead they would never relinquish.

Vietnam, like Smith, making their World Cup debut, wasn't nearly as successful as the Colorado native, who became the youngest-ever U.S. player to score multiple goals in her first-ever World Cup match.

But the Vietnamese defense did their best to keep the game close in the first half, keeping the U.S. from getting too far ahead despite an offensive onslaught that saw the Americans take 28 shots and 10 corner kicks in the match. Vietnam had zero attempts in both categories.

Vietnam's goalkeeper Thi Kim Thanh even stopped an Alex Morgan penalty midway through the first half to keep the game within shooting distance for the World Cup rookies.

But Smith was ultimately able to break through late in the first half to give the red, white and blue a 2-0 lead heading into the locker room.

Smith, in fact, was just one of 14 players on the U.S. team registering their first U.S. World Cup cap.

Lindsey Horan—one of the team veterans, who actually scored in the 2019 World Cup—scored the third goal for the U.S., assisted by none other than Smith, which accounted for the final 3-0 count.

The highlight of what was ultimately a game never in doubt, however, was Rapinoe entering in the second half to mark her 200th game for her country. She's the 14th woman to reach that mark for the USWNT.

She'll be looking for No. 201 when the U.S. faces off with the Netherlands in the team's second game of the tournament Wednesday. They're currently attempting to become the first team, men or women, to win three straight World Cups.

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