Sophia Smith will celebrate her 24th birthday on 10 August and, if she sustains her electrifying form, it could well be one to remember.

The Women’s Olympic Football Tournament gold medal match will be contested in Paris on that date – and Smith’s USA are among the favourites to battling it out for one of the sport’s greatest prizes.

The Americans displayed their title credentials with a resounding 4-1 victory over Germany on Sunday, which secured their place in the knockout phase. Smith was the star of the show, scoring twice in a thrilling individual performance which underlined her status as one of the world’s most feared attackers.

She applied the finishing touch to an incisive move to open the scoring at Stade de Marseille. And while her second strike was aided by a deflection, the fact she attempted the shot – outside the box and off balance – was reflective of her soaring confidence.

“I feel really good,” Smith said. “The first one was a great team goal. I just had to finish it off, but we’ve been working on things like that all week. With the second, I got a little luck, but any time I get the chance to shift and shoot, I’m going to take it.”

Smith has already amassed more than a half-century of international caps and scored 24 goals for her country. She is convinced, however, that new USA coach Emma Hayes can help her accelerate that scoring rate and develop her overall game.

“Emma’s biggest goal for me is playing in this No9 position. I tend to shift away from the box, but it’s about getting me to stay in the box and get those tap-in goals – the ones I tend to score. She wants me to be that No9 that’s in those areas and putting away finishes here and there. She’s always teaching us so many things. We absolutely love Emma.”

The feeling, Hayes revealed, is mutual.

“I love Soph to bits,” the Englishwoman told FIFA. “She’s my type of player. She does so much for the team. She gives everything. She’s having to learn as a No9, when to hold [her position], when to stretch, when to come short. Coaching her is so much fun because she absorbs what you say.”

A broad smile rarely left Smith’s face when she spoke enthusiastically to reporters post-match. The Portland Thorns forward – who got engaged last month to NFL player Michael Wilson – opened up on how feeling so content off the pitch is helping her flourish come matchday.

“I play my best soccer when I’m happy,” she said “It’s so important to have that balance. We are athletes, but we’re so much more than that. If you’re not happy going to training and going into the games because of things off the field, it’s hard to focus. Being happy just translates to enjoying every moment on the field.”

She is particularly savouring linking up with her fellow Colorado-born attacker Mallory Swanson. Swanson has made a sensational return to the national team after almost one year out with injury, and is the joint-top scorer at the Olympics with three goals. She was also on target against Germany, showcasing her predatory instincts to tap home after goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger parried a 20-yard Smith effort.

When asked about her growing understanding with Smith, Swanson said: “It starts off the field. We came from the same club [Real Colorado] growing up, and we would always train together.

“To be able to build that relationship [in the USA team] over this past couple of months has been special. Honestly, we’re kind of like sisters. But that goes for everyone in the group. We’re having a lot of fun”

“Tonight’s game was just Soph was doing Soph things! Scoring goals, that’s what she does. Her first goal felt really good. It was a team goal and it was directed straight from the training ground into our play. Her second one, I’ve seen her take those shots a million times – and I know they’re going to go in!”