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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.
The 18-year-old Moultrie, making his third appearance for the national team, scored his first goal in the seventh minute when he stretched out and tapped the ball over the goal line.
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Lynn Williams added a goal in the 30th minute off a pass from Midge Perse to make it 2-0 in Team USA’s first game of the year.
Perth scored their second goal in the 59th minute, feeding Moultrie. Moultrie, who plays for the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League, is the third-youngest player to score multiple goals in a single game for the United States.
Jenna Neiswonger scored her first goal for the United States on a penalty kick in the 86th minute, making it 4-0.
Alex Morgan, who joined the team early on Tuesday, came on midway through the second half. Morgan replaced Mia Fishel, who tore ligaments in his right knee during practice the day before.
Morgan, who normally wears No. 13, wore Fishel’s No. 7 due to CONCACAF regulations.
Morgan completed the scoring with a penalty kick in stoppage time. This was her 122nd international goal.
This comes as interim coach Twila Kilgore took over for the United States after coach Vlatko Andonovski left the team following the U.S. national team’s disappointing result at last summer’s Women’s World Cup. It was his sixth victory.
Credit: Kiyomio-USA TODAY Sports
Kilgore will remain the U.S. national team coach until May, when current Chelsea coach Emma Hayes takes over.
Colvin Albert, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, also made his first start.
Veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who served as captain for this game, was also delayed due to Alana Cook sustaining a minor knee injury. It was Sauerbrunn’s 216th cap.
The Dominican Republic secured a spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over Guyana on Saturday. Kathryn Gonzalez scored the only goal early in the second half.
Gonzalez, a Pennsylvania native, came off the bench in the second half of the game against the United States.
Early Tuesday morning, Argentina and Mexico played to a scoreless draw in the opening game of Group A at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy.
The tournament will have three groups of four teams, with games played in Carson, San Diego and Houston.
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