Morgan scores 5, as the US demolished Thailand

Morgan scores 5, as the US demolished Thailand

Morgan says the defending champions wants to showcase their ability and what they have been working on going into this tournament.

Alex Morgan (second from right) celebrates with her teammates after scoring one of her five goals in the USA’s record-breaking 13-0 hammering of Thailand. (AFP pic)
REIMS:
Striker Alex Morgan scored five times as holders the US began their World Cup campaign with a record 13-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday.

Morgan opened the goal spree for the title favourites, who are in pursuit of a fourth world crown, with a header in the 12th minute and from then on there was no stopping the champions.

Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle found the net with a left-footed shot while midfielder Lindsey Horan gave them a 3-0 lead going into the interval.

Samantha Mewis opened the floodgates five minutes after the break as the US made life miserable for the Thais by regularly finding the back of the net.

In total seven Americans scored during the match – Morgan (5), Lavelle (2), Mewis (2), Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd all finding their way on to the scoresheet in a performance that is bound to strike fear into all of those teams hoping to end the United States’ reign as world champions.

“We really wanted to showcase ourselves and what we’ve been preparing for and working on and I think we did that,” said Morgan.

“Every goal matter in this tournament and so that’s what we were working on in this game. We got a lot of attacks and I think we were really clinical in the number of attacks that we did get.

“I am speechless. The ball just bounced my way today and I am looking forward to the next game.

“To see Rose Lavalle, have the confidence to go at players, Sam Mewis taking on players and scoring from outside the box, they showed really well. I am really proud of them.”

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.