Carson, CA, Feb 21 (BUS): Meikayla Moore scored three goals against the United States.
A perfect hat-trick in the first half: left foot, right foot and header.
“It’s been a tough day in the office,” New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova said after the Americans’ 5-0 win in the Shepeleyes Cup match on Sunday.
Ashley Hatch and Mallory Pugh scored in the second half for the United States, which are preparing for the World Cup qualifiers in July. The Americans extended their unbeaten home streak to 64 games, including seven draws, according to Associated Press reports.
Moore, the 25-year-old Liverpool defender, was on New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup squad but did not enter a game, then missed the 2019 World Cup after an Achilles tendon injury. In her fiftieth international appearance, she was substituted at the 40th minute.
American women have never before benefited from three goals in one game.
Sophia Smith’s cross crossed into the penalty area from Moore’s right leg and passed goalkeeper Erin Nayler in the fifth minute, stopping the United States’ streak without goals in 181 minutes.
After just 82 seconds, Sofia Huerta’s pass went into the center of the area, hit Moore’s head and entered it.
Then in the 36th minute, Margaret Pierce’s cross hit Moore’s left leg 4 yards and beat Nayler. The United States conceded only two goals, in an exhibition in February 2014 against Russia and New Zealand at the Olympics last July.
“She is clearly sad and disappointed, but she is an incredible personality and player who belongs to this team,” Klimkova said. “We are all behind her in this difficult moment for her.”
USA coach Vlatjko Andonovsky said he believed Moore was in the right place to defend all three goals.
Alyssa Naher saved the United States in her first match for a club or country since August 2, 2021, when she injured her right knee during the Olympic semi-final against Canada, forcing her out of the match in the 30th minute.
Naher was one of six changes to the starting lineup as of Thursday.
Andonovsky evaluates younger players during the four-team league championship. Stars Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Kristen Price and Tobin Heath are not on the list.
“We’re excited to win. They needed to see the goals and that’s good. Hopefully this is just the beginning,” Andonovsky said.
Hatch entered at the beginning of the second half and scored her third goal in the team’s last three matches in the 50th minute with a header from the middle of the penalty area from Huerta’s cross.
“We worked on swinging the ball to our outside full-back and our flankers and making sure we were in the penalty area,” Hatch said. her head. Good cross and easy finish. “
Pugh scored in stoppage time, splitting the two defenders in a split in the 93rd minute, scoring her first international goal since October 3, 2019.
New Zealand’s best chance came in the 32nd minute when Olivia Chance’s shot from the penalty area went wide.
The tournament concludes on Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, with the United States facing Iceland, and New Zealand facing the Czech team.
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