It was the perfect start for the reigning Women’s World Cup champions, starting off their 2019 tournament with a 13-0 victory over Thailand. The United States Women’s National Team set a record for the most goals scored in a FIFA Women’s World Cup game in history with the 13 put past Thailand.
The United States nearly had their first goal five minutes into the match, as a close-range header from Lindsay Horan down to Alex Morgan found the back of the net, only to be ruled offside. But it didn’t take the US long after that, as Morgan scored again and this time it was allowed to stand. Horan played a wonderful cross to the back post for an unmarked Morgan to head home for the 1-0 lead.
A Women’s World Cup debut goal from midfielder Rose Lavelle made it 2-0, with a great solo effort from the edge of the area into the bottom left corner in the 20th minute. The 24-year-old was one of four United States players to score in their Women’s World Cup debut, the others being Horan with one, Mallory Pugh with one, and Samantha Mewis with two.
The reigning champs grabbed their third and final of the first half in the 32nd minute, as the freekick taken deflected off Mewis in the area and Horan finished the loose ball into the back of the net. The score stood at 3-0 going into the half, but the scoring was not finished.
Four goals in six minutes gave the United States gave them a quick 7-0 lead in the 56th minute, as two from Mewis, one from Morgan, and another from Lavelle gave the Women’s team a comfortable lead over Thailand. Head Coach Jill Ellis would make her changes following the quick goals, bringing on Carli Lloyd for Lavelle, Christen Press for Tobin Heath, and Mallory Pugh on for Julie Ertz ten minutes later.
Morgan would get her hat-trick in the 74th minute, taking the ball into the box and dragging the ball back to create all the space she needed to fire the ball to the far post. The goal fest continued with Megan Rapinoe getting on the scoresheet only five minutes later, as Pugh played a great ball into the box that got past everyone to find an open Rapinoe in front of goal to tuck it past the keeper.
The scoring didn’t end for Morgan, as her fourth goal came only two minutes after Rapinoe’s. The play started with Rapinoe touching the ball into the feet of Morgan who took a quick one-timed effort to slot it to the top corner for the United States’ 10th.
Pugh scored three minutes later, as Morgan played her through and she took a touch past the keeper to tap in in for the eleventh goal of the game. Morgan ended her scoring with a fifth goal three minutes after Pugh, controlling a ball in the air with a perfect flick and rifling a half-volley to the top corner for the 12-0 lead.
The final goal came from the 36-year-old Lloyd, who added to the scoresheet after being played through on goal and flicked it to the bottom right corner in the 92nd minute. The Women’s National team set the tone of the tournament with their performance, and showed they were here to retain what they won in 2015.
With a goal difference of plus 13, the United States sit comfortable at the top of Group F, above Sweden who are tied on points but have only a +2 goal difference from their 2-0 win over Chile. The USWNT campaign continues Sunday with a 12 p.m. kickoff against Chile, and they finish Group F against Sweden on the 20th with a 3 p.m. kickoff.
