The U.S. Women’s national team paid a visit to RFK stadium on Tuesday night, putting up a touchdown’s worth of goals despite missing several key starters en route to a 7-0 obliteration of Mexico.
There was no rust on the U.S. Women’s national team in RFK Stadium. Playing together for the first time after the conclusion of the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League, the U.S. team ran rough-shod over Mexico, winning 7-0. It wasn’t that close!
“A result like tonight sends a message across the whole squad that nobody’s place is safe in this team,” U.S. coach Tom Sermanni said after the match. “That’s important for competition and the continuing development of the team.”
Sydney Leroux, who usually doesn’t start, began the game up top with Abby Wambaugh as Alex Morgan sat this one out with an injury, and score three goals in the first half. She finished with four goals.
Wambauch scored the opening goal, and the last two were scored by ? and Virginia Cavalier Morgan Brian. The U.S. is now 27-1-1 all-time against Mexico.
Women’s games between the U.S. and Mexico are seldom close. In fact, this wasn’t the worst beating inflicted by the Americans, who have scored as many as a dozen before against “El Tri.”
Leroux gave credit for her scoring form to her play in the NWSL, where she played with the Boston Breakers.
“I’ve been feeling confident. I think the league has helped my confidence, given me the confidence to take people on and use my speed,” said an exuberant Leroux after the victory.
The USA is riding a 73-game home unbeaten streak. Those 73 games have included just nine ties and 64 wins. The last loss for the USA on home soil came on Nov. 6, 2004, a 3-1 setback to Denmark in Philadelphia. It was one of just two losses the USA has suffered when Wambach scores a goal.
The USA is riding a 35-game unbeaten streak since the last loss, which came to Japan (1-0) on March 5, 2012 at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. Over those 35 games, the U.S. has scored 117 goals while allowing 26 in 30 wins and five ties.
The U.S. is 10-0-2 in 2012 with the two draws coming against Germany.
Brian, a junior at UVA, (a second half substitute making only her second appearance for the national team) would round out the scoring. Brian was quick to acknowledge her friends and family, many of whom were in attendance.
“My parents are here, my old club coach, and some of my old UVA teammates as well,” a beaming Brian told the media in attendance. “I’m really excited that I got to score in front of this type of a crowd. My parents were pretty loud, honestly. It was hard to miss them.”