Lily Yohannes' USWNT team-mates have been blown away by the 16-year-old's "maturity" after scoring on her international debut against South Korea.
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USA beat South Korea 3-0Yohannes, 16, scores on debutTeenager hailed for her "maturity"WHAT HAPPENED?
The teenager was handed her United States international debut in the 72nd minute, before finishing off a well-worked corner routine nine minutes later to grab her first goal. The Ajax talent said it was a "dream come true" following their 3-0 win over Korea on Tuesday and now compatriots Sophia Smith, 23, and Rose Lavelle, 29, have waxed lyrical about the youngster.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT SMITH AND LAVELLE SAID
US striker Smith told : "Lily is a baller. From the day she came into camp, she was just making passes that you don’t see a 16-year-old make. You don’t even see veteran players make these passes. She’s confident, she’s composed. We knew she was going to get into this game hopefully, and she came in and didn’t miss a beat. She looked like a natural out there, and then to get a goal on top of that is amazing and so well deserved.”
Midfielder Lavelle added: “She’s like the most mature 16-year-old I’ve ever met. I feel like she’s more mature than me honestly. She’s been so impressive. I told her: ‘I will always remember my 100th cap because it was Lily’s first cap and her first goal'."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Yohannes became the USWNT's third-youngest goalscorer with her strike and when she came on to face Korea, she became the youngest player to make an appearance for the national side since 2001. New coach Emma Hayes will certainly be excited about this one and relieved she turned down an approach from Netherlands instead.
WHAT NEXT?
Yohannes could play for the USWNT again when they take on Mexico on July 13 and then again at home to Costa Rica three days later. Incidentally, it is now two wins from two games for former Chelsea manager Hayes following their 4-0 thrashing of Korea on June 1.