The U.S. women’s national team kicked off its inaugural 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup campaign with the team’s largest margin of victory in over one year.
Twila Kilgore’s squad breezed past the Dominican Republic 5-0 on Tuesday night in Carson, California as four different players got on the scoresheet. Olivia Moultrie registered a brace for the Americans while Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger, and Alex Morgan also added goals of their own.
The USWNT was on the attack from the moment they heard the referee’s whistle. One of Nighswonger’s 14 corner kicks of the night came in the second minute which Williams headed home at the back post. Unfortunately, VAR intervened to rule Sophia Smith offside and disallow the goal. It wouldn’t slow the Americans down though.
Flying down the right wing all night was Midge Purce whose eighth-minute cross was deflected off of Sophia Smith before being tapped in by Moultrie. It was the 18-year-old’s first senior goal on her debut.
It didn’t take long for the 28-year-old to get her deserved assist – again with a cross from the right flank – this time to Williams in the 30th minute. The Dominican Republic saw out the 2-0 deficit into halftime but the two stars of the game had more left in the tank.
The former Portland Thorns teammates combined in the second half for another Purce cross to the back post finished by Moultrie for a 3-0 advantage.
“Liv and I played together when we were at the Thorns,” Purce recalled postmatch. “I used to drive her home a lot ’cause she couldn’t drive. She has a turf field in her backyard and we would train in her backyard a lot.”
Still, despite the duo of the night putting the game to bed at 3-0, the USWNT wanted more.
“We understand that we need to be more ruthless [and] that there were opportunities and goals left on the table.” interim head coach Twila Kilgore noted postgame. Despite tacking on two penalties for a 5-0 scoreline, Kilgore felt her team was too patient on the night.
It was Nightswonger slotting home the initial penalty for her first international goal and a 4-0 USWNT lead in the 86th minute after asking for the ball from second-half substitute Alex Morgan.
The USWNT legend was called into camp to replace the injured Mia Fishel after originally arriving in Coachella for NWSL preseason with the San Diego Wave. Morgan showed her generosity in letting Nightswonger take the penalty, but also ensured a goal of her own via a 93rd minute penalty kick to put the cherry on top of a dominant USWNT performance.
Up next for the Americans is a showdown with Argentina on Friday night followed by a rivalry match against Mexico on Feb. 26 to close out the group stage stationed at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Due to Argentina drawing 0-0 with Mexico in the preceding match at DHSP on Tuesday night, the USWNT will enter Matchday 2 at the top of Group A with its sights already set on the knockout stages.
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