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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michael Sykes

Sophia Smith made some epic USWNT history with her absolutely incredible World Cup debut

Everybody expected the US Women’s National Team to win their debut World Cup match against Vietnam in the group stage of the competition.

It wasn’t a matter of whether they’d win — folks were more curious about how they’d do it. Or, rather, which players would see step up and earn the win for Team USA? After all, there are 14 players on the roster who are playing in their first World Cup.

RELATED: 5 teams who can actually beat the USWNT in the World Cup.

As it turned out, we got a pretty special performance from Sophia Smith. One that actually came with a little bit of history.

Smith had a hand — or foot, rather — in all 3 of the USWNT's goals

She scored her first goal here.

Then she snuck her second goal passed Vietnam’s keeper here.

And then she dished off an assist to Lindsey Horan for the USWNT’s third goal of the match in the 77th minute.

 

She was Player of the Match, obviously

The coolest part was that Smith’s dad was the one who gave her the Player of the Match trophy. It was such an incredible moment.

And she made some history

At 22 years old, Smith became the youngest member of the USWNT to score multiple goals in a match in 20 years. The last person to do it was Cat Whitehill back in 2003, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

Smith took the internet by storm

Fans were so impressed with the match Smith had. And you can’t blame them. She was deep in her bag for this one.

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