FRISCO, Texas • The U.S. women’s soccer team’s younger reserves not only didn’t disappoint in the club’s Group A finale in CONCACAF qualifying for the Rio Olympics, they delivered a record performance.
Crystal Dunn, one of only three regulars to start, tied a U.S. women’s national team record with five goals as it routed Puerto Rico 10-0 Monday night to win the group title.
“I’d like to think this is a special moment,” said Dunn, who couldn’t recall another five-goal game during her entire soccer career. “But I’d love to think there’s more to come.”
The top-ranked Americans scored three times within 1:56 during the second half and outshot Puerto Rico 32-1.
“Crystal worked real hard tonight,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “She was in a good position in central; I think that’s probably her most comfortable position. Obviously, got a lot of service from her teammates. It’s tremendous for her and for her confidence.”
The U.S. would clinch one of the 12 slots in Brazil with a win in its CONCACAF semifinal game Friday night in Houston. It will face the runner-up of Group B, which is to finish play Tuesday. Canada is expected to win that group, with Guyana or Trinidad & Tobago finishing second.
The U.S. remained unbeaten in all-time CONCACAF qualifying play, 16-0-1, having scored 91 goals and allowing four.
The tournament is the Americans’ first competitive play since winning last summer’s World Cup in Canada. They have won three straight Olympic titles and four of the five that have been staged in women’s soccer.
Dunn’s scores came in the sixth, 21st, 62nd, 85th and 87th minutes. She had five career goals going into the game and became the seventh U.S. woman to score five in a match.
The other five U.S. goals Monday came from Carli Lloyd (on a penalty kick), Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Samantha Mewis (her first career score) and on an own goal.
Ellis’ opening lineup included eight players who didn’t start either of the two previous group games, and only five players who appeared in last summer’s World Cup. The lineup was drastically changed because the team already had clinched a semifinal spot, was playing for the third time in five days and faced a foe ranked No. 108 worldwide.
The newcomers included Mallory Pugh, 17, the youngest American woman to start a qualifying match. Pugh assisted on Dunn’s first goal and was tripped in the 18th minute, leading to Lloyd’s penalty kick.
Group A’s other semifinalist is Costa Rica, which edged Mexico 2-1 in Monday’s first game at Toyota Stadium. Raquel Rodriguez, winner of this year’s women’s Hermann Trophy (presented by the Missouri Athletic Club), had two goals in that contest as Costa Rica held off a late charge from the Mexicans.
Maribel Dominguez scored for Mexico, which is missing out on the semifinals for the first time in the history of the tournament for the North and Central America and Caribbean regions.
