United States women’s national team manager Vlatko Andonovski praised Sophia Smith as “special” after the forward scored a first-half brace against Nigeria in her team’s 4-0 victory on Saturday.
“First of foremost, this is the best team in the world and in order to play on this team, you have to be one of the best in the world,” Andonovski said.
“She is a special player and she’s certainly developing aspects of her game that she maybe wasn’t special in: Ability to pop in pockets or to recognize those pockets and then expose the defense. For us as coaches, we’re happy to see that because it gives us another layer or gives us an opportunity to create strategy in a way that we believe we can expose teams.”
– Kassouf: Smith stars as settled USWNT stroll past Nigeria
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
Smith scored 14 minutes into the match on a more direct play, reading a deflection off a 50-50 ball that the U.S. won at midfield and slotting home her shot 1-v-1 with Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Moments before half-time, Smith tallied her second goal in much different fashion. Her finish was the final product of terrific team combination play between Andi Sullivan, Alex Morgan and Emily Fox which saw Fox, the fullback, overlap Morgan to get behind the defense.
