USA v Thailand

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USA v Thailand

One-Way Traffic As USA Sets Records

by Jeremy Ruane

Team USA went on a record-breaking goalscoring spree at the Stade Auguste Delaune in Reims on June 11, thrashing Thailand 13-0 in front of 18,591 fans to record the biggest-ever victory in the history of FIFA Women's World Cup Finals football.

Leading the charge was Alex Morgan, who has graced magazine covers such as Time magazine and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in the build-up to this women's footballing fiesta.

"Ah, but can she walk the talk and deliver on the world stage?", the nay-sayers ask. Yes. Emphatically. Morgan's five-goal haul in this match equalled the record for the most goals scored by an individual in a Women's World Cup fixture, a title she now shares with her legendary countrywoman, the incredible Michelle Akers.

Remarkably, Morgan could have finished this game with six goals to her name, because her first strike, in the sixth minute, was ruled out by the offside flag. But when she headed home Kelley O'Hara's cross in the twelfth minute, there was no comeback for the Thai team, who succumbed to a second goal eight minutes later, Morgan setting up Rose Lavelle, who thundered home a twenty-yarder.

Morgan snatched at a volleyed chance soon after, Crystal Dunn and Megan Rapinoe having worked a one-two on the left which saw the hard-working fullback whip in a cross which Thai goalkeeper Sukanya Chor Charoenying pawed away from goal.

Thailand survived strong penalty claims soon after as Sam Mewis went to ground in the area, but in the 32nd minute, Team USA made it 3-0, the genial Tobin Heath whipping in a free-kick which ricocheted off Mewis into the stride of Lindsey Horan, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net from six yards.

Before the interval, Morgan saw a shot on the turn blocked, while Rapinoe just failed to get on the end of a Mewis cross after a quickfire move which also featured Julie Ertz and the irrepressible Morgan.

Right on half-time, Chor Charoenying turned a Dunn thunderbolt round the post, with Thailand somehow surviving the resulting corner without conceding. Horan hit the upright with a diving header, while Dunn also hit the woodwork and Morgan saw a goalbound shot blocked before Ertz was felled in the area.

The whistle sounded, but it was a mercy call by Argentinian referee Laura Fortunato as far as the Thai team were concerned. If only they - and all-comers - knew what was to come once play resumed …

Four goals in a swashbuckling seven-minute spell was the fate awaiting the luckless Thailand team, with the scoreline going from 3-0 in the 49th minute to 7-0 in the 56th. Mewis bagged the first of them, a scorcher from the edge of the area which was goalbound despite the deflection the ball took en route off Natthakarn Chinwong.

That 50th minute strike was followed three minutes later by a tap-in for Morgan after another Heath free-kick wasn't cleared. Within a minute, Mewis struck again, ramming home the rebound after Lavelle's shot was blocked following fine work down the left by Dunn - she had a terrific game.

And she featured again in the 56th minute in a move begun by Ertz and which also involved Horan before Lavelle lashed home her second goal of a night which Thailand knew was only going to get far worse when they saw Carli Lloyd entering the fray immediately afterwards.

Within minutes, the history-making midfielder - only Lloyd and Sir Geoff Hurst have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup Final - was being denied by Chor Charoenying, while fellow substitute Christen

Press saw her effort blocked moments later.

Lloyd was again thwarted by Thailand's overworked goalkeeper in the 66th minute, Chor Charoenying then pulling off a double-save to keep out efforts from Morgan then Lloyd as Team USA piled on the pressure - the world champions were clearly intent on making a statement in this match, the last in the first series of round-robin fixtures during the group phase of the tournament.

Come the 74th minute, the scoreboard operator's respite from duty was brought to an end by Morgan, who completed her hat-trick in stirring fashion, Horan and Press combining to invite their team-mate to turn past a defender and let that lethal left foot wreak further havoc on the netting behind Chor Charoenying.

Five minutes later, Lloyd won possession and fed Press, who played in overlapping fullback Mallory Pugh. The substitute's cross was swept home emphatically by Rapinoe, a goal which meant double figures weren't far away.

Sure enough, with nine minutes remaining, the scoreboard read 10-0, Dunn and Rapinoe combining to invite Morgan to pick out the top corner for her fourth goal on what was fast becoming an extraordinary night, even by Team USA's high standards.

Lloyd volleyed over from six yards soon afterwards, but within seconds Pugh had joined the list of goalscorers, tucking the ball home after Horan, Press and Morgan had once more unhinged a Thailand defence which had long been sporting a collective look of complete bewilderment as their red-clad rivals literally ran rings round them.

With three minutes remaining, Rapinoe, Horan and Dunn linked down the left before the fullback picked out Morgan, who turned past two opponents before smashing home her fifth goal, Team USA's twelfth.

And there was time for one more, the baker's dozen being brought up in stoppage time by Lloyd, who tucked the ball into the bottom corner after being set up by Morgan, her third assist in a remarkable personal performance which took place amid a history-making result on women's football's greatest stage of all.

As the Thailand team shed tears in the aftermath of this humiliation, there will be many who will look at this result and speak in condemnatory tones about a variety of issues which a 13-0 scoreline on the ultimate world stage doubtless provokes.

No matter those views, Team USA would have been doing themselves and football as a whole an injustice had they not played to their potential for the duration of the contest.

As well, it was fate - the outcome of last December's draw - which brought these nations together. Neither country is to blame for not being on the same level, as the resources available to both are vastly different.

This is where FIFA needs to revise its investment levels, so that those whose need is greater receive more than those who are already well served resources-wise. But doesn't that statement mirror the global requirements of the world overall?

Team USA: Naeher; O'Hara, Dahlkemper, Ertz (Pugh, 69), Dunn; Lavelle (Lloyd, 57), Mewis, Horan; Heath (Press, 57), Morgan, Rapinoe

Thailand: Chor Charoenying; Phetwiset (Srimanee, 71), Saenkhun, Chinwong, Srangthaisong; Sung-Ngoen, Boothduang (Khueanpet, 35), Phancha, Intamee, Thongsumbut (Dangda, 65 (booked, 72)); Nild

Referee: Laura Fortunato (Argentina)

Group Matches