Olivia Moultrie scores twice and the US women down the Dominican Republic 5-0

Wed, Feb 21, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Olivia Moultrie scored twice in her first national team start and the United States defeated the Dominican Republic 5-0 on Tuesday night in the inaugural CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup tournament.

Moultrie, 18, making just her third appearance with the national team, scored her first goal in the seventh minute when she stretched to tap the ball across the goal line.

Lynn Williams added a goal off a pass from Midge Purce in the 30th minute to make it 2-0 in the U.S. team's first game of the year.

Purce also fed Moultrie for her second goal in the 59th minute. Moultrie, who plays for the Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League, is the third-youngest player to score multiple goals in a game for the United States.

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Jenna Nighswonger scored her first goal for the U.S. on a penalty in the 86th minute to make it 4-0.

Alex Morgan, who was brought into the team earlier Tuesday, came in as a second-half substitute. Morgan was a roster replacement for Mia Fishel, who tore a ligament in her right knee in practice a day earlier.

Morgan, who normally wears No. 13, wore Fishel's No. 7 because of CONCACAF rules.

Morgan converted a penalty kick in stoppage time to wrap up scoring. It was her 122nd international goal.

It was the sixth victory for the United States under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over when coach Vlatko Andonovski departed the team following the Americans' disappointing finish at the Women's World Cup last summer.

Kilgore will coach the United States until May, when Emma Hayes, currently coach of Chelsea, takes over.

Korbin Albert, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, also made her first start.

Veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, the captain for the match, was also a late addition to the roster because Alana Cook sustained a minor knee injury. It was Sauerbrunn's 216th cap.

The Dominican Republic clinched a spot in Group A with a 1-0 victory over Guyana on Saturday. Kathrynn Gonzalez scored the lone goal early in the second half.

Gonzalez, a Pennsylvania native, came in as a second-half substitute against the United States.

Earlier Tuesday at Dignity Health Sports Park, home to Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy, Argentina and Mexico played to a scoreless draw to open Group A play.

There are three groups of four teams in the tournament, with matches in Carson, San Diego and Houston.

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