STREET. PAUL, Minn. — Sixteen-year-old Lily Yohannes scored 10 minutes into her international debut Tuesday at Allianz Field in the United States women's national team's 3-0 victory over South Korea to become the third-highest scorer young man in the history of the program.
“It's really a dream come true,” said Yohannes, who came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute. “I played this scenario in my head how many times before this game? I just had the idea of coming in and scoring.”
Yohannes is the eighth-youngest player to debut for the USWNT and the youngest player to take the field for the team since March 2021.
“She doesn't look like a 16-year-old,” USWNT head coach Emma Hayes said after the game. “She knows what I think of her. I've really pushed her and wanted her on this team.”
Yohannes scored in the 82nd minute, after forward Trinity Rodman collected a short corner kick and dribbled past her defender to slide a ball toward Yohannes to finish from 10 yards. The teenager ran to the corner to celebrate and was quickly surrounded by exuberant classmates.
“That was very special,” Yohannes said. “I think that made it that much more special. I walked to the corner and saw them all running towards me. Just super, super special and so grateful. Great team.”
After the final whistle, several USWNT players ran directly to Yohannes for a group hug.
Hayes said he told Yohannes at the start of training camp last week that he would use her in midfield for her debut at some point in the two games against South Korea during this international window.
The new USWNT coach is deeply familiar with Yohannes, having played against her in the UEFA Champions League group stage last season when Hayes was still managing Chelsea.
Yohannes was born in Virginia, but her family moved to the Netherlands when she was 10 years old. She signed with Dutch club Ajax when she was 15 and, last fall, she became the youngest player to start a UEFA Women's Champions League group. stage match.
Dutch coach Andries Jonker publicly courted the midfielder and said Yohannes was seeking a Dutch passport, but Yohannes had said several times before this training camp that he was not looking too far into the future.
She was first called up by the USWNT in April, before Hayes officially came to the bench.
A DREAM DEBUT FOR LILY!!!!#USWNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/RWlOYpLSjj
— US Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) June 5, 2024
Crystal Dunn, who scored the first goal against South Korea and played forward for the USWNT for the first time in almost seven years, praised the “poised” Yohannes for scoring the “softest first goal I've ever seen.”
USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle, who played her 100th cap on Tuesday, said Yohannes has a high ceiling. “My God, she's the most mature 16-year-old I've ever met,” Lavelle said. “I feel like she's more mature than me, honestly.” Hayes said Tuesday that Yohannes can get out of pressure without problems with well-weighted passes in the midfield.
“She's a natural soccer player who is confident in her abilities,” Hayes said. “I think playing in Europe has helped, she has accelerated [her].
“She's had exposure that a lot of American 16-year-olds haven't had, and it shows. There was maturity even at a young age. She handles it. It's her second camp and there's already been a step forward from the first to the second. “I want to celebrate her first international match. It's a really special moment for her and her family.”
