Sophia had an interesting end to her night in Portland. And by interesting we mean hilarious.
USWNT and Portland Thorns striker Sophia Smith scored the game-winner for her club in their 1-0 home win over North Carolina Courage on Saturday, extending her incredible form in the NWSL and cementing her star-power in the league as one of the best forwards in the last few seasons.
Her crucial penalty and ninth goal of the season against the Courage saw Smith become only one of three players to record 15 goal contributions in three separate NWSL campaigns.
15 - At 23 years old, Sophia Smith has become just the third #NWSL player to record 15 or more goal contributions in three different regular seasons (Sam Kerr, Lynn Williams). Force. pic.twitter.com/EoQ4XBwFeG
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) June 9, 2024
Sophia Smith's 9th goal of the season puts @ThornsFC in front.
Don't miss the finish on @IONNWSL! pic.twitter.com/VulECfdcNc— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 9, 2024
She’s a one-of-a-kind striker.
However, shortly after scoring and being substituted off the field, an unorthodox — and embarrassingly obvious — time-wasting strategy from Smith on the bench saw the player get sent off in perhaps one of the most hilarious ways possible.
Watch: Sophia Smith gets sent off for hiding ball under Portland Thorns bench
Just minutes after being substituted off and taking a seat on the team bench, Sophia Smith received a double-booking that saw her get sent off in the closing moments of the game.
Smith, who had received a yellow card for time-wasting just moments prior to her substitution, received another booking for grabbing the game ball before a throw in and hiding it under the team bench in her effort to win her team some time and the eventual three points.
The 23-year-old placed the ball under her seat only to act like she was actually helping reach for the ball to resume play, 'innocently' complaining to the referee about the accusations from the Courage squad.
The referee, however, was notified of Smith’s actions by the other officials and quickly went to the bench to show the American the red card. Smith had no choice but to laugh it off.
#PORvNC #BAONPDX Sophia Smith attempting a little extra time wasting, but ended up getting a second yellow for this... She'll now have to miss out the rivalry match next weekend against Seattle pic.twitter.com/1uzkIbpHxn
— Taylor Vincent (@tayvincent6) June 9, 2024
Full replay of Sophia Smith trying to hide the ball under the Thorns bench, for which she got her second yellow.
Suspended for the next match over shithousery, pending appeal. #BAONPDX #NWSL https://t.co/hckvuUMPUW pic.twitter.com/WksQks6rgg— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) June 9, 2024
Not slick at all, Sophia.
Smith will now miss the Thorns’ upcoming league match against the Seattle Reign, with a successful appeal to her one-match suspension being more than unlikely.
