The U.S. women’s national team opened World Cup qualifying with a goal in the second minute against Mexico. The USWNT absolutely dominated the rest of the half without finding another goal.
The second half, though, was another story.
The U.S. women scored three goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half and trounced Mexico 6-0 on the opening day of the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship, which doubles as World Cup qualifying, on Thursday in Cary, North Carolina.
The U.S. went to the top of the Group A standings, ahead of Panama on goal differential (more on Panama’s interesting day below). Group A play returns to action on Sunday with the U.S. playing Panama and Mexico taking on Trinidad and Tobago. Group B play begins Friday with Costa Rica vs. Cuba and Canada vs. Jamaica.
Thursday night, though, was all Team USA. At least, in the second half. Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan scored two goals apiece in a comprehensive victory.
#Rapinoe pic.twitter.com/6yXhsO0CjK
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 4, 2018
@alexmorgan13 - pic.twitter.com/wXsd2xocda
— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 5, 2018
The U.S. has only lost one game in World Cup qualifying history. That came to Mexico in 2010. But four years ago the U.S. beat Mexico 3-0 in the semifinals of this tournament and Thursday’s match was closer to the 2014 meeting than 2010.
USWNT vs Mexico Highlights
The U.S. meant business from the opening whistle. Megan Rapinoe directed home the match’s opening goal in the third minute, at which point Mexico hadn’t even completed a pass.
Happy Hour. Pinoe on special. pic.twitter.com/3V1Rq2c88b
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 4, 2018
It was the perfect start for the reigning World Cup champions, who utterly dominated the first half. But somehow, the USWNT couldn’t find a second goal in the opening 45 minutes.
Rose Lavelle came closest, hitting the post in the 26th minute.
26' Lavelle se quedó a un poste de poner el 2-0
El equipo de no para de insistir al frente y está muuuuy cerca de anotar.@ussoccer_wnt 1-0 @miseleccionmx#CWC El juego EN VIVO https://t.co/THsbTtpwSh pic.twitter.com/OYMK3lLGUd— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 5, 2018
And Mexico keeper Bianca Henninger made a magnificent save on Rapinoe in the 37th minute.
37' A-TA-JA-DÓN DE HENNINGER
La portera mexicana le quitó a 'un pie' el segundo gol a Rapinoe@ussoccer_wnt 1-0 @miseleccionmx#CWC El juego EN VIVO https://t.co/THsbTtpwSh pic.twitter.com/kot2a8XArA— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 5, 2018
The U.S. led just 1-0 at the break, despite these staggering statistics.
Halftime:
Possession: 74-26%
Shots: 11-0
Corners: 4-3But ... only 1-0 #uswnt
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) October 5, 2018
54.1% - Mexico completed just 54.1% of passes in the first half, the 11th time @ussoccer_wnt has limited an opponent to below 55% passing accuracy in the first half of a match since 2016. Stifling.
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) October 5, 2018
The second half, however, was a far different story.
In the 47th minute, Julie Ertz finally added to the USWNT’s lead, emphatically putting a loose ball in the box following a Rapinoe free kick into the back of the net.
46' ¡GOOOOOOOOOL DE ERTZ!
Balón que la zaga no logra reventar en el área, y la jugadora de aprovecha la oportunidad para mandarla al fondo. @ussoccer_wnt 2-0 @miseleccionmx#CWC El juego EN VIVO https://t.co/THsbTtpwSh pic.twitter.com/ispNvYIma8— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) October 5, 2018
Just as in the first half, the USWNT scored in the opening minutes of the half. Unlike the first half, they kept scoring.
Alex Morgan made it 3-0 in the 57th minute, heading in a corner kick taken by Rapinoe.
That service. That finish.
*chef's kiss* pic.twitter.com/RnjzDCCCzF— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 5, 2018
Tobin Heath joined in on the scoring five minutes later with a powerful header on a cross from Crystal Dunn.
Us currently: @crysdunn_19 x @TobinHeath pic.twitter.com/1Gbee63Swm
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 5, 2018
In the 70th minute, it was 5-0 when Rapinoe had a second tap-in goal. It was another set-piece goal for the Americans.
Just taaaap it in. Just taaaap it in.@mPinoe bags her brace. pic.twitter.com/iamE5ewYnd
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 5, 2018
Morgan completed her brace when Becky Sauerbrunn (a center back, by the way), set up an easy finish for a player who now has 92 goals for the U.S.
The on top.@alexmorgan13 makes it SIX. pic.twitter.com/2j8cCG1VOi
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) October 5, 2018
Coach Jill Ellis will be ecstatic with her team’s performance against Mexico. The defense was rock solid, not allowing any real good looks from El Tri. Lavelle and Lindsey Horan looked stellar in midfield alongside the always-steady Julie Ertz. The starting trio of forwards combined for five goals. What’s not to like?
Oh, and Lavelle had this lovely bit of tekkers.
We accept this Rose #TOURdeFOUR pic.twitter.com/p31HrlzLzT
— The American Outlaws (@AmericanOutlaws) October 5, 2018
Now the U.S. will look ahead to facing a Panama team that will be high on confidence.
In the earlier match in Group A on Thursday, Panama routed Trinidad and Tobago 3-0, a surprising result. Trinidad and Tobago reached the intercontinental playoff four years ago before losing to Ecuador, but has been dealing with financial issues this year.
Trinidad 0 - 3 Panama Highlights
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) October 4, 2018
The most interesting note from the first match was Panama using a 13-year-old defender. Sheyla Diaz didn’t make it into the match, but was on the bench.
Panama are the weakest side on paper in Group A and have opted to go with youth: 7 of Panama's squad were born in 2000 or later, including 13-year old defender Sheyla Diaz, who starts on the bench tonight. Just 4 players in Panama's squad are over the age of 23.
— Austin Miller (@austin_james906) October 4, 2018
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