A US Soccer star who narrowly missed the World Cup used one stellar goal to make her case for a spot at the Olympics

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Lynn Williams scored off of a brilliant 65-yard run in stoppage time vs Nigeria Wednesday night.

  • The late-game goal may be enough to clinch a spot on the USWNT roster invited to the Olympics.

  • Williams narrowly missed making Jill Ellis' USWNT squad that won the 2019 World Cup.

  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Lynn Williams just barely missed the US Women's National Team roster for the 2019 World Cup.

And now, two years later, the National Women's Soccer League superstar is doing everything in her power to ensure she isn't left out for this summer's Olympic games.

sam mewis lynn williams
Lynn Williams. Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images

With an impressive, late-game goal during the final match of the USWNT's three-game Summer Series slate Wednesday night, Williams may have cemented her case for a spot on the 18-person roster head coach Vlatko Andonovski will take to Tokyo next month.

During stoppage time in the second half against Nigeria, Christen Press spotted the 28-year-old making a stunning, 65-yard run upfield and connected with her on a brilliant leading pass. Williams then took a touch past the keeper and buried the ball into the back of the net to double the USWNT's lead.

Williams has been criticized for her inefficient finishing in the lead-up to this summer's games. But with her goal Wednesday night, the North Carolina Courage star silenced her naysayers and may have done enough to quell Andonovski's remaining doubts about bringing her to Tokyo.

Still, the competition for a spot among the USWNT's attacking forces is fierce. Approximately five players on the 18-person roster will be forwards, and the US has an embarrassment of riches up top; Williams is contending with Press, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath, and Sophia Smith for one of those highly-coveted spots.

lynn williams
Lynn Williams. AP Photo/Steve Luciano

Williams will find out soon enough if her goal against Nigeria was enough to punch her ticket to Tokyo. Andonovski is expected to announce his final roster for the Olympics shortly after the conclusion of the Summer Series, and from the sound of it, he's ready to pick his squad.

"In terms of making final decisions, I feel like we have very good knowledge of the players," Andonovski said following the 2-0 win over Nigeria, per Sporting News' Seth Vertelney. "We've accumulated a lot of knowledge and data over the last year and a half so when the time comes I believe we are going to make the right decision for this team."

Read the original article on Insider