Yohannes, age 16, makes impressive debut as US defeats South Korea

Teenager Lily Yohannes made a memorable debut for the United States by scoring just nine minutes into her first appearance in a 3-0 friendly win against South Korea. The 16-year-old Ajax midfielder came off the bench in the 72nd minute at Allianz Field in Minnesota and finished off a well-worked corner routine to score her first goal for the national team.

Yohannes, who chose to represent the US over an approach from the Netherlands, is the eighth-youngest player to debut for the women’s side. She described the experience as a dream come true and had imagined scoring in her debut many times before the game.

US manager Emma Hayes praised Yohannes, saying she doesn’t look like a typical 16-year-old and has shown great potential in training. The win marked Hayes’ second victory since taking over the US team after leaving her successful tenure at Chelsea.

Crystal Dunn and Sophia Smith also scored in the match, giving the US a comfortable win. Hayes, who left Chelsea after winning multiple Women’s Super League titles, expressed her excitement and motivation in her new role as the head coach of the national team.