Lily Yohannes, 16, becomes USWNT's third-youngest goal scorer in debut

Ajax midfielder Lily Yohannes became the third-youngest scorer on the U.S. women's national team, scoring in the 82nd minute in a friendly against South Korea on Tuesday night.

Yohannes has already made history just by being on the field during the game. When she entered the field, the 16-year-old became the youngest player to play for the national team since 2001, and just the eighth to debut before turning 17. In goals, she trailed only Kristine Lilly and Tiffany Roberts . as the USWNT's youngest scorers.

“It's a dream come true, really,” Yohannes told TNT Sports after the USWNT won 3-0. “I played out the scenario in my head I don't know how many times before. “The support of all my teammates running towards me made it that much more special.”

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How did Yohannes score?

While a friendly match does not mean a draw for a player, seeing Lily Yohannes enter the game in the 72nd minute was another step in the team's continued renewal after the World Cup. She was given some freedom to move away from Sam Coffey, looking to play on the wing, which she seemed comfortable doing from the start. At points he was also asked to navigate around the venerable Ji So-yun, a big ask for a first assignment, but an important one that demonstrated both a level of trust and a level of willingness to let Yohannes fly or fall on his own merits. . .

Yohannes chose to “fly” by scoring his first goal, a calmly placed shot that sailed just under goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.

Yohannes has written his name in the record books, at just 16 years and 358 days old.

A DREAM DEBUT FOR LILY!!!!#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/RWlOYpLSjj

— US Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 5, 2024

“Lily is a basketball player. From the day she came to camp, she was just making passes that you don't see a 16-year-old make,” forward Sophia Smith said. “You don't even see veteran players make these passes. She is confident, she is serene. We knew that hopefully she was going to come into this game, and she came in and didn't miss a beat.

“He seemed like a natural out there, and also to get a goal is incredible and well deserved.” — Stephen Yang

Who is Lily Yohannes?

Born in Springfield, Virginia, Yohannes spent her early childhood playing alongside her siblings and father in a community of Ethiopian and Eritrean expatriates. When the family moved to the Netherlands, Yohannes worked her way through Ajax's women's academy system and eventually became a starter for the team this season.

She played 20 games this season, scoring five goals and four assists and helping Ajax reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League, where they lost to Emma Hayes' Chelsea.

“She's like the most mature 16-year-old I've ever met,” USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle said Tuesday. “I feel like she's more mature than me, honestly. She has been so impressive. I said, “I'll always remember my 100th cap because it was Lily's first cap and hers was her first goal.”