FRISCO - 2016 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying kicked off on Wednesday evening at Toyota Stadium with two high-scoring matches.
Mexico started the tournament on the right foot with a 6-0 thrashing of Puerto Rico - a team that is ranked 108 in the World and still looking for their first major tournament appearance.
37-year-old Maribel Dominguez, who is back with the Mexican side after missing out the 2015 World Cup, led ‘El Tri’ with a hat-trick. ‘Marigol’ proved unstoppable up front scoring at will in the 17th, 51st and 80th minutes.
Center back Alina Garciamendez also made herself present on the scoresheet after converting on a corner kick header, while midfielder Nayeli Rangel and substitute forward Katlyn Johnson rounded out the 6-0 scoreline on an easy night for the Mexican side.
In the second game of the double-header, the U.S. Women’s National Team returned to action against Costa Rica in their first competitive match since winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The U.S. women needed just 12 seconds to get on the board after the opening whistle with Alex Morgan scoring her first of two goals on the night.
Carli Loyd, the 2015 FIFA World Player of the Year, made things 2-0 for the USWNT on a penalty kick in the 9th minute, and winger Crystal Dunn scored the third goal of the night to put the U.S. up 3-0 before halftime.
Morgan struck again with a header on a cross by Carli Lloyd in the 60th minute, and substitute Christen Press made a statement off the bench, scoring the 5th for the U.S. by knocking down a cross behind her just 10 yards from goal and capitalizing.
At just 17 years old, Mallory Pugh made her debut with the team after coming on a sub for Crystal Dunn in what would be the cherry on the cake for the team’s first match of Group A.
Mexico leads Group A on goal differential, with the U.S. sitting in second place, Costa Rica in third, and Puerto Rico in fourth. Mexico and the USA will face each other this Saturday at 3 p.m. in what could be the defining game in the battle for the top spot in the group.
Mexico 6, Puerto Rico 0
1' - Dominguez (Mexico)
9' - Garciamendez (Mexico)
51' - Dominguez (Mexico)
54' - Rangel (Mexico)
80' - Dominguez (PK - Mexico)
90+' - Johnson (Mexico)
Mexico (4-4-2): 1-Santiago; 2-Romero, 3-Farias, 4-Garciamendez, 15-Flores; 8-Noyola, 17-Perez (19-Zermena 82’), 7-Rangel, 11-Ocampo (18-Samarzich 65’); 16-Monsivais (10-Johnson 65’), 9-Dominguez
Puerto Rico (4-5-1): 1-Gustafson; 17-Font, 2-Johnson, 7-Rosario, 19-Colon (18-Rodriguez 45’); 6-Jonhson (8-Pagan 29’), 10-Suarez, 14-Rivera, 11-Mendez; 16-Hernandez (15-Diaz 54’); 9-Socarras
United States 5, Costa Rica 0
1' - Morgan (USA)
9' - Lloyd (PK - USA)
15' - Dunn (USA)
62' - Morgan (USA)
83' - Press (USA)
USA (4-5-1): 1-Solo; 11-Krieger (19-Hinkle 67’), 8-Johnston (12-Press 74’), 4-Sauerbrunn, 7-Klingenberg; 16-Dunn (2-Pugh 68’), 9-Horan, 14-Brian, 17-Heath; 10-Lloyd, 13-Morgan
Puerto Rico (4-5-1): 1-Diaz; 5-Saenz, 20-Acosta, 6-Sanchez, 8-Cruz; 14-Barrantes, 11-Rodriguez, 16-Alvarado (15-Granados 46’), 7-Herrera (17-Villalobos 68’ ); 10-Cruz (3-Villalobos 80’); 9-Venegas