Welcome to the @NWSL, @sophsssmith. #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/H5Eh3M5wm2
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) September 20, 2020
Well, that's one way to make an entrance, @sophsssmith! What a beauty of a header.#PORvUTA | #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/IlXrMXpnKa
— Portland Thorns FC (@ThornsFC) September 20, 2020
Write this down M-A-R-S; Mars Bitches!
Yesterday was just pure dubs for the United States. Hows this for excitement, Weston McKennie makes his debut for la Juve, simultaneously 5,000 miles across the pond, Sophia Smith makes her professional debut and no big deal scores within 5 minutes. Now, I’m not one to overreact, but last night, I was rehearsing in the mirror the story I will one day tell my grandchildren about the time I saw global megastar Sophia Smith make her pro debut.
I was already gitty from the start of the day when Chicago sliced and diced NY/NJ like a delicious DEEP DISH PIZZA with the wins over Sky Blue FC and the NY Giants. Next thing I know, I’m watching Simone Charley take the Utah Royals defense to dance class, and about an hour later the chosen one graces the screen. The future of the national team. The future of the league. The heir to whoever currently sits upon America’s soccer throne. Pulisic? Rapinoe (93ovr lol)? Forward Madison’s ALT Kit?
I’m just saddened we didn’t get to witness Sophia at the Challenge Cup (had a knee injury). But the wait was certainly worth the finish. She put a header past Abby Smith like she’s done it a million times, and was promptly swarmed by the entire Portland team. Hell, I think I saw Ferguson Horan somewhere in that pile.
And another thing, I keep seeing this notion that these stats don’t really count so it wasn’t her first NWSL goal. Poppycock I say! What would even be the reason to not keep track of these stats? Is the database with NWSL stats out with an injury? Let this officially be the start of the movement to allow these Fall Series and Challenge Cup stats to count towards the player’s records.