Crystal Dunn scored five goals, and Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Sam Mewis and Carli Lloyd also scored to go with a Puerto Rico own goal as the United States women’s national team completed a perfect group stage in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying with a 10-0 win in Frisco, Texas, on Monday.
The match featured three second-half goals in less than two minutes -- the own goal, Dunn’s third and Press’ goal -- and the Yanks were flying.
Next up is the all-important semifinal, as the USWNT advances to the Olympics with a win and gets nothing with a loss. Their semifinal opponent will either be Guyana or Trinidad and Tobago, with those nations tangling on Tuesday in Houston.
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The Yanks broke through before the clock hit 6:00, with 17-year-old Mallory Pugh using a scissors move to free herself for a run down the left flank. Pugh crossed for Dunn, who hit a low shot past Carly Gustafson to make it 1-0.
It was quite an ask for Gustafson, a part-time starter at Winthrop University now facing the best team in the world. And her next task was facing down a Lloyd penalty attempt, comically given after Pugh tripped herself up in the box. The Ballon d’Or winner didn’t miss, though her reaction (below) showed she know how close her upper-90 pinging blast was nearly off. 2-0.
Dunn added her second within two minutes of the pen, and the rout was on. The Yanks added another before halftime with O’Hara tapped in a set-up from Stephanie McCaffrey and Lloyd.
Puerto Rico was outshot 18-1 in the first half, and has 22 percent possession.
An own goal made it 5-0 when Pugh’s cross for Morgan was deflected in by Rivera, and Dunn completed her hat trick less than a minute afterwards with a classy low shot from about 22 yards.
Dunn’s fourth came in the 86th minute, another fantastic finish of a Megan Klingenberg pass. Mewis added her first career goal moments from full time.
STARTING LINEUPS
USWNT: Naeher; Hinkle, Sonnett, Krieger, O’Hara; Lloyd, S. Mewis; Pugh, Press, McCaffrey; Dunn.
Puerto Rico: Gustafson; Rivera, Fiol, Johnson, Font; Mendez, Suarez, Pagan; Johnson, Rodriguez; Socarras