Sophia Smith Scores 3 Goals as USWNT Beats Uzbekistan in 2022 Friendly
April 9, 2022
The United States women's national team defeated Uzbekistan 9-1 on Saturday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, in what was their first friendly since the SheBelieves Cup in February.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams, which will meet again Tuesday at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The U.S. roster featured 17 players who helped the team win the SheBelieves Cup. Veterans Abby Dahlkemper and Lindsey Horan also returned to the roster after missing the tournament, but it was the younger players who carried the team to victory.
Andi Sullivan, who made her 26th appearance for the national team, started things with a goal in the 26th minute off a corner kick to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Mallory Pugh added a goal a minute later off the kickoff to double the U.S. lead.
The Americans continued to pile onto their lead when Sophia Smith scored the first of her three goals in the 33rd minute. She put the finishing touch on a pass from Pugh into a wide-open net to give the USWNT a 3-0 lead.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccerTOO EASY FOR <a href="https://twitter.com/sophsssmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sophsssmith</a> 🙌<br><br>This marks Smith's 2️⃣nd international goal for the <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USWNT</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6uxXQHvHt2">pic.twitter.com/6uxXQHvHt2</a>
About two minutes later, Smith tallied her second goal of the night on a rocket of a shot inside the penalty area to put the U.S. up 4-0.
The Americans wasted no time in the second half as Catarino Macario scored in the 46th minute to put the U.S. women up 5-0. Smith then netted her third goal of the evening, which marked her first hat trick for the USWNT, in the 56th minute.
Uzbekistan goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova tried to grab a long pass into the penalty area, but Pugh raced to the ball, dribbled around her and set Smith up for a goal in front of a wide-open net.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccerHAT TRICK FOR <a href="https://twitter.com/sophsssmith?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sophsssmith</a> 🎩🎩🎩<br><br>Smith has half of the <a href="https://twitter.com/USWNT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USWNT</a>'s goals for today so far 😱 <a href="https://t.co/2VyuUJhfdb">pic.twitter.com/2VyuUJhfdb</a>
The goals continued to come in the final 30 minutes of the game as Jae Howell, Ashley Hatch and Ashley Sanchez found the back of the net to put the Americans ahead 9-1.
Uzbekistan's Aziza Norboeva also found the back of the net off a corner kick for the country's only goal of the evening in the 70th minute.
It was an incredibly impressive evening for the young U.S. players, though Uzbekistan is far from being one of the best teams in the world. Regardless, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski should be pleased with how his team performed, especially on offense.
With qualifiers for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2024 Summer Olympics just three months away, these matches are important for Andonovski to get a look at the younger players who might help fill out his roster this summer.