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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Sophia Smith scored a pair of first-half objectives and the U.S. ladies’s nationwide staff defeated Nigeria 4-0 Saturday as each groups put together for subsequent summer season’s World Cup.
America has a 70-game unbeaten streak on American soil — 63 wins and 7 attracts.
The 2 groups face off once more Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Smith outmaneuvered a defender and scored from distance within the 14th minute. Lindsey Horan made it 2-0 within the twenty sixth minute with a aim to the far put up off an help from Smith, who added a second aim in first-half stoppage time.
Alex Morgan transformed on a penalty kick within the 52nd minute after Mallory Pugh was fouled within the field.
Smith, who performs for the Portland Thorns of the Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League, leads the nationwide staff with 9 objectives this 12 months.
Smith, simply 22, is growing totally different elements of her sport, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski stated.
″(Her) particular person actions are excellent. However then her actions off of Alex Morgan had been very exact. We noticed a few good connections with Alex, a few good connections with the gamers that had been round,” Andonovski stated. “So she’s turning into not simply individually an excellent participant however she’s additionally bringing different gamers within the sport and helps them look higher on the sphere.”
America certified for the World Cup on the CONCACAF W Championship in July. The staff received the match title to additionally safe a berth within the 2024 Olympics.
The U.S. has received the final two World Cups and has 4 titles total.
Nigeria, one of the vital profitable ladies’s groups in Africa, certified for the 2023 World Cup by advancing to the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations in July. The Tremendous Falcons completed fourth within the match.
Nigeria has superior to each World Cup for the reason that match began in 1991. At the moment the staff is coached by Randy Waldrum, former coach of the NWSL’s Houston Sprint.
Following Tuesday’s rematch towards Nigeria, the USA heads to Europe to play England at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 7.
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Extra AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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