June 20, 2008
PUEBLA, Mexico - Just two days after earning her first assist in international play, California women's soccer sophomore Alex Morgan posted the first international goal of her young career, setting the U.S. U20 team off to a 9-0 rout of Cuba in the second match of the 2008 CONCACAF Under-20 World Cup Qualifying Tournament at Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla, Mexico.
Morgan took a pass from Nikki Washington just moments after kick-off and put the ball in the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the second minute of the match. The U.S. was never threatened, pulling out to a 3-0 lead at halftime. After getting the assist on Morgan's game-opening goal, Washington scored two goals of her own in the 32nd and 42nd minutes of the first half. Washington was one of three American players to score at least two goals on the day, joined by Michelle Enyeart and Kelley O'Hara. O'Hara pulled off a hat trick by putting three goals past Cuba's goaltender in the second half, earning her Sierra Mist Player of the Game honors.
With the win, the U.S. put itself into virtual sole possession of first place (six points) in Group A competition with a 13 goals to none goal differential. Mexico, with three points takes on Trinidad & Tobago following the U.S./Cuba match. The top two teams from each group will play in the semifinals, and the top three teams in the tournament will advance to the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Chile. Eleven nations have already qualified for the U-20 World Cup: host Chile; Japan, China and North Korea from Asia; France, Germany, Norway and England from Europe; New Zealand from Oceania; and Brazil and Argentina from South America.
Morgan had a phenomenal freshman year for the Golden Bears, starting in 15 of the 17 games she appeared in. The 5-7 forward helped Cal to a 15-5-1 record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament as she scored a team-high eight goals. She also put up two assists and led the team in total points with 18 in her first year on campus. Morgan was a Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman Team selection and earned honorable mention for all-conference honors.
Next up, the U.S. U20 team will face Mexico on Sunday, June 22, at 12:30 p.m. (PT). Fans can follow the match against Mexico live on ussoccer.com's Match Tracker.
U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team Game Report
Participants: U.S. Under-20 WNT vs. Cuba
Competition: CONCACAF Under-20 Women's World Cup Qualifying
Location: Estadio Cuauhtemoc - Pueblo, Mexico
Date: June 20, 2008
Weather: Warm, Sunny
Scoring Summary:
1st Half 2nd Half Total
USA 3 6 9
CUB 0 0 0
USA – Alex Morgan (Nikki Washington) 2nd minute
USA – Nikki Washington (Becky Edwards) 32
USA – Nikki Washington (Kelley O’Hara) 42
USA – Kelly O’Hara (Michelle Enyeart) 46
USA – Kelly O’Hara (Nikki Washington) 54
USA – Michelle Enyeart (Sidney Leroux) 60
USA – Michelle Enyeart (Kelley O’Hara) 62
USA – Becky Edwards (unassisted) 72
USA – Kelley O’Hara (Ingrid Wells) 81
Lineups:
USA: 18-Kristin Arnold; 19-Kiersten Dallstream (22-Sydney Leroux, 59), 8-Kaley Fountain, 4-Nikki Marshall, 3-Meghan Klingenberg; 25-Becky Edwards, 21-Ingrid Wells, 9-Gina DiMartino (11-Christine Nairn, 46); 17-Alex Morgan (13-Michelle Enyeart, 37), 10-Kelley O’Hara, 7-Nikki Washington
Subs not used: 1-Alyssa Naeher, 5-Keelin Winters, 14-Jessica McDonald, 15-Casey Nogueira
Not available: Lauren Fowlkes, Elli Reed
Head Coach: Tony DiCicco
CUB: 12-Lucileno Martinez; 3-Leodana Beyerano, 4-Yamara Lopez, 6-Jessica Popo Alvarez, 10-Yareni Kareilia Fuentes (14-Leidy Carp, 69); 15-Yeanna Valdes (13-Olga Lidia Blanco, 90), 14-Leidy Carp, 9-Yudisleivi Felio Hernandez, (7-Yamisleidy Bernal Chacon, 46), 18-Yudisleivi Reyes, 20-Yisel Rodriguez; 8-Yesenia Gallardo
Subs Not Used: 5-Yadira Rodriguez, 15-Yeanna Valdes, 10-Yareni Karelia Fuentes, 1-Katherine Monesino, 11-Rachel Pelaez
Head Coach: Rufino Sotolongo
Statistical Summary:
USA/CUB
Shots 40/0
Shots on Goal 20/0
Saves 0/7
Corner Kicks 12/0
Fouls 5/9
Offisides 3/1
Misconduct Summary:
CUB - Yeanna Valdes (caution) 56th minute
Sierra Mist Woman of the Match: Kelley O'Hara
