In her first appearance for the United States, 16-year-old Lily Yohannes made a memorable debut by scoring just nine minutes into a 3-0 friendly win against South Korea. The Ajax midfielder came off the bench in the 72nd minute at Allianz Field in Minnesota and found the back of the net with a well-worked corner routine.
Yohannes, who turned down an offer from the Netherlands to play for the US, is now the eighth-youngest player to debut for the US women’s side. She expressed her excitement by calling it a dream come true and mentioned that she had imagined scenarios like this many times before the game.
US manager Emma Hayes praised Yohannes, stating that she does not look like a typical 16-year-old and has shown immense dedication during training sessions. Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith also contributed to the win by scoring goals for the four-time Olympic champions.
Since leaving her role at Chelsea to take charge of the US national team, Hayes has already secured two wins in two matches. Her successful 12-year tenure at Chelsea, where she won multiple Women’s Super League titles, came to an end in May. Hayes mentioned feeling re-energized in her new role as an international manager.
