Sophia Smith on target as US sink Mexico in Olympic football warmup

NEW YORK – Sophia Smith scored the only goal as the United States warmed up for the Paris Olympics with a 1-0 victory over Mexico at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on July 13.

Portland Thorns striker Smith rounded off a superb team move with an emphatic finish on 64 minutes to seal a deserved win for Emma Hayes’ youthful US Olympic squad.

The Athletic quoted Hayes as saying: “For the chances we’ve created, we’re not hitting the frame enough. That’s something to add... we’re only scratching the surface.”

Mexico had beaten the Americans 2-0 when the teams last met in February during the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup in California.

But that shock loss – only the second time Mexico have beaten the US women – seemed like a distant memory on July 13 after a dominant performance by the four-time Olympic champions.

Hayes controversially omitted veteran striker and two-time World Cup winner Alex Morgan, 35, from her 18-strong squad for the Olympics, where the Americans are chasing their first gold medal since the 2012 London Games.

However, the movement of Smith and attacking partners Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson against Mexico suggested that the US women will be among the main contenders for gold in France.

Smith in particular carved out a number of promising chances and only some desperate goalkeeping from Mexico custodian Stephany Barrera prevented the home team from scoring more.

Barrera pulled off superb saves to deny Smith in the 22nd and 52nd minutes, before Smith finally broke the deadlock in the second half.

Rose Lavelle’s pass released Rodman down the right, who in turn fed Swanson in the penalty area. Swanson unselfishly laid the ball off to Smith, who cut inside and curled a shot past Barrera.

Said Smith: “We have such dynamic players up front, we can create in so many ways. I should have put away a few more. But it goes to show the different ways we’re creating and working together.”

The midfield, however, remains a work in progress, with Lavelle saying: “I think we’re working on being a little more tactically flexible and when things felt like it wasn’t working in the first half, we want to do something a little different in the second half.

“So me going deeper just kind of happened, it worked. But we’re trying to, as a group, learn how to adjust on the fly and be a little smarter with our adjustments during games.”

They play Costa Rica in a July 16 friendly before heading to Paris.

Olympic champions Canada beat Australia 2-1 in another warmup in Marbella, Spain. Sharn Freier put the Matildas ahead but Canada hit back through Nichelle Prince and Evelyne Viens. AFP