U.S. women score on Costa Rica in 12 seconds, win 5-0
It took 12 seconds for the U.S. Women’s National Team to turn the pressure up on the field of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
U.S. forward Alex Morgan one-touched the fastest goal in CONCACAF women’s qualifying history past Costa Rica goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz 12 seconds after the opening kickoff, leading to a 5-0 American rout of Costa Rica on Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium.
The goal surpassed the previous record of 35 seconds set by former U.S. forward Abby Wambach in 2012 against the Dominican Republic.
After accepting a pass off the opening kickoff, midfielder Morgan Brian fed a quick pass to midfielder Lindsey Horan, who sent a long lob into the offensive third, finding the head of captain Carli Lloyd. Lloyd flicked a pass in front of the streaking Morgan, who fired a shot off the bounce into the net.
Morgan said it was a play that the team had tried to execute for several years, but only Wednesday was it able to finish with a score.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start out the tournament,” Morgan said. “We knew that goals mattered in terms of exiting the group stage, so we wanted to start out well and I don’t think we could have asked for anything better.”
We knew that goals mattered in terms of exiting the group stage, so we wanted to start out well and I don’t think we could have asked for anything better.
U.S. forward Alex Morgan
Eight minutes after registering the assist on the opening goal, Lloyd netted her ninth Olympic qualifying goal on a penalty shot to the bottom left corner of the net.
Forward Crystal Dunn finished out the American scoring in the first half, netting a rebound off Diaz that landed right at the goalmouth.
Morgan netted her second of the night, and sixth career Olympic qualifying goal, on a header of a close-range service by Lloyd in the 62nd minute.
The U.S. closed out its scoring in the 83rd minute on a trap, spin and shot by Christen Press, who subbed into the game for Julie Johnston in the 74th minute.
Goal scoring wasn’t the only pressure the U.S. forwards put on Costa Rica. The front unit kept defensive energy high in Costa Rica’s defensive third, seldom allowing the ball past midfield in the first half.
U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo made her first play on the ball in the 17th minute of the game.
“For us, when we did lose the ball, it was great to see us try to win it back quickly and I feel like there was some goals off of our transition and the fact that our defensive play led to a lot of great chances,” Morgan said.
We’ve got to kind of put this one to bed and focus our attention on Mexico, but I think overall, some good things.
U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd
While Wednesday was the lowest-scoring U.S. performance in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, the national team continued its streak of shutouts in opening games.
The U.S. has pitched shutouts in 11 of its 14 all-time women’s Olympic qualifying games, allowing just four goals all time.
In Wednesday’s other Group A opener at Toyota Stadium, Maribel Dominguez scored a hat trick as Mexico routed Puerto Rico 6-0.
The U.S. national team has a quick turnaround in group play, facing Mexico Saturday at 3 p.m. in Frisco before closing group play Monday night against Puerto Rico.
“We can’t dwell on the thing too much,” Lloyd said. “We’ve got to kind of put this one to bed and focus our attention on Mexico, but I think overall, some good things.”
Travis L. Brown: tbrown7137@gmail.com, @Travis_L_Brown.
This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 10:14 PM with the headline "U.S. women score on Costa Rica in 12 seconds, win 5-0."