Rapinoe and Morgan bag braces as USWNT rolls past Mexico 6-0 to open World Cup Qualifying

Tobin Heath Scores Brilliant Header Goal, Julie Ertz Also Tallies

Rapinoe and Morgan bag braces as USWNT rolls past Mexico 6-0 to open World Cup Qualifying

USA Women’s National Team opened its World Cup qualifying campaign with a resounding 6-0 win vs. Mexico in Group A play of the 2018 Cocacaf Women’s Championship on a muggy Thursday night at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.

The USA scored in just the third minute as Megan Rapinoe, who was wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in her career, finished off a Lindsey Horan feed.

The USA out-shot Mexico 11-0 in the first half while applying constant pressure through crisp possession and sent numerous services into the penalty area, but Mexico defended well to keep the score down in the opening frame.

The floodgates opened early in the second half as the USA scored five times after the break. Just over a minute into the second half Julie Ertz tallied, followed by two goals from Alex Morgan, Rapinoe’s second and the goal of the game from Tobin Heath.

The USA will continue play at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship vs. Panama in Cary, N.C. on Oct. 7 (5 p.m. ET; FS1, UDN). The WNT will then finish group play against Trinidad & Tobago on Oct. 10 (7:30 p.m. ET; FS2, UDN).

Here’s a reminder of the full 2018 Cocacaf Women’s Championship schedule and group standings.

– U.S. Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: USA 6-0 Mexico
Date: October 4, 2018
Competition: 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship – Group A
Venue: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 5,404
Weather: 74 degrees, clear

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 5-Kelley O’Hara (2-Emily Sonnett, 67), 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 19-Crystal Dunn; 8-Julie Ertz, 16-Rose Lavelle (10-Carli Lloyd, 66), 9-Lindsey Horan; 17-Tobin Heath (11-Mallory Pugh, 77), 13-Alex Morgan, 15-Megan Rapinoe (capt.)

Substitutes not used: 3-Samantha Mewis, 6-Morgan Brian, 12-Hailie Mace, 14-Casey Short, 18-Ashlyn Harris, 20-Christen Press

Head Coach: Jill Ellis

MEX: 12-Bianca Henninger; 2-Kenti Robles, 13-Rebeca Bernal, 14-Arianna Romero (3-Christina Murillo, 78), 16-Cristina Ferral; 4-Bianca Sierra, 7-Nayeli Rangel, 6-Nancy Antonio (19-Katlyn Johnson Carreón, 61), 10-Stephany Mayor (capt.), 17-María Sánchez (18-Kiana Palacios, 47), 9-Charlyn Corral

Substitutes not used: 1-Cecilia Santiago, 5-Mónica Flores, 8-Karla Nieto, 20-Lizbeth Ovalle, 15-Ariana Calderón, 11-Mónica Ocampo

Head Coach: Roberto Medina

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 23 / 3
Shots on Goal: 10 / 1
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 8 / 14
Offside: 6 / 3

Officials:
Referee: Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Chantal Renee Boudreau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Mijensa Rosancha Rensch (SUR)
4th Official: Marie-soleil Beaudoin (CAN)

U.S. Soccer Woman of the Match: Megan Rapinoe