ZCZC
BSP-10
FBL-CONCACAF-WOMEN-WC-2019
Rapinoe, Morgan key US rout of Mexico in Women’s World Cup qualifying
LOS ANGELES, Oct 5, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The United States put themselves
firmly on the path to the 2019 Women’s World Cup Thursday with a crushing 6-0
victory over Mexico to open the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan both scored twice. Julie Ertz and Tobin
Heath added a goal apiece for the US side who roared into the final round of
qualifiers on the back of a 21-game unbeaten streak.
The United States, who beat Japan to win the 2015 World Cup title, were
stunned in the Olympic quarter-finals in Rio two years ago.
The power of their revamped side was on full display in Cary, North
Carolina, against a Mexico team ranked 24th in the world by FIFA.
The Americans opened the scoring in the third minute when Rapinoe slotted
home a ball put through by Lindsey Horan, the 1-0 lead standing until
halftime.
Three minutes after the break, Ertz made it 2-0 and 10 minutes later
Morgan headed in a corner kick by Rapinoe.
Heath made it 4-0 in the 61st minute and Rapinoe bagged her second in the
71st into an open net off a loose ball in the penalty area. Morgan slotted
home in the 80th to cap the scoring.
In the opening game of the day’s double header, Panama out-played Trinidad
& Tobago on the way to a 3-0 victory.
Marta Cox, Kenia Rangel and Erika Hernandez scored for Panama, ranked 66th
in the world and playing in the regional championship for just the third
time.
Panama will take on the United States on Sunday when Trinidad & Tobago,
ranked 52nd in the world, face Mexico.
Group B action was set to open on Friday when Costa Rica play Cuba and
Canada play Jamaica at Edinburg, Texas.
The top two teams from each group advance to a semi-finals in Frisco,
Texas, on October 14 before the final and third place playoff three days
later at the same venue.
The two finalists plus the winner of the third place playoff qualify
automatically for France 2019 while the loser of the third-place match will
face a further playoff against a side from South America.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1340HRS