US captain Megan Rapinoe said that hammering Thailand 13-0 in the FIFA Women’s World Cup was all “part of growing the game,” after a win so lopsided that there were suggestions they should have eased up to save Thailand from embarrassment.
Rapinoe scored the ninth goal for the title-holders, one of 10 in the second half as the US surpassed the tournament record of 11-0, set by Germany against Argentina in 2007.
“We have the utmost respect for everyone we play, but it’s the World Cup and that’s part of it. It’s part of growing the game. They’ll improve from here,” Rapinoe said.
Photo: AFP
Alex Morgan starred with five goals in the Group F opener in Reims, as the US pulverized a Thailand side playing at just their second World Cup.
This was always going to be a daunting challenge for the Chaba Kaew, who made it to France thanks to their run to the semi-finals at last year’s Asian Cup.
“There are some teams here that, since the last World Cup, have only played a handful of games, or only the qualifiers. It’s embarrassing for the federations, and for FIFA as well,” said Rapinoe, as she reflected on the gulf between the world’s top sides and the rest.
Not that Thailand are necessarily minnows, as they sit 34th in the FIFA rankings, higher than six other sides competing in this World Cup.
In addition to Morgan’s five goals, Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis both scored twice, and Lindsey Horan, Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and veteran Carli Lloyd each scored one.
Goal-difference might be important in deciding who wins the group, with the US facing Chile next before taking on Sweden, the team who defeated them in the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics in 2016.
However, if they win the group, they could end up facing hosts France in the quarter-finals.
“I definitely think we need to keep our feet on the ground and I think we will, but I do think that we created a lot of good energy and that’s something that can help carry us forward,” said Mewis, the 26-year-old midfielder who was making her World Cup finals debut.
NETHERLANDS VS NZ
Jill Roord came off the bench and headed home from close range in added time to give the Netherlands a 1-0 World Cup victory over New Zealand in Le Havre.
The victory lifts the European champions into a tie with Canada atop Group E.
“I think we can play better than we did today, but we were looking for a win and New Zealand were looking for a draw — and I’m very glad we finally got what we wanted,” Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman said.
New Zealand, stout in defense and sharp on the counterattack, were left with nothing but disappointment.
“The players will be absolutely devastated, but we’re a resilient group and I’m pretty confident we’ll bounce back,” New Zealand coach Tom Sermanni said.
The stars were the two goalkeepers, Sari van Veenendaal for the Netherlands and New Zealand’s Erin Nayler. Both were busy and both, at different stages, underwent on-field treatment after brave saves.
The Netherlands had almost 70 percent of possession and almost three times as many goal attempts, but New Zealand went painfully close three times.
In the first half, Olivia Chance hit the bar and Rosie White drew a sprawling save from Van Veenendaal with a long-range strike. Early in the second half, Sarah Gregorius shinned a volley into the ground that gave Van Veenendaal time to lunge to her right and claw the ball round the post.
At the other end, centerbacks Rebekah Stott and Abby Erceg coped well with the physical presence of Netherland forward Vivianne Miedema and the lively skills of the attackers around her.
“We found it tough to create openings,” FIFA Player of the Match Lieke Martens said. “New Zealand defended well and it was not our best match, that’s clear.”
“We can’t go away from the game saying we have regrets. We have disappointment,” said Sermanni, who has coached four of the nations in this year’s World Cup. “We’ve got to look at the positive things we did.”
SWEDEN VS CHILE
Sweden scored two late goals to beat Chile 2-0 after a long holdup in their World Cup match in Rennes because of a violent storm that led to conditions deteriorating.
Torrential rain had been falling for around a quarter of an hour amid a threat of thunderstorms when Mexican referee Lucila Venegas decided to take the players off in the 72nd minute with the score still 0-0.
Play eventually resumed following a break of about 40 minutes, and Kosovare Asllani fired into the roof of the net to give Sweden the lead in the 83rd minute.
Substitute Madelen Janogy then ran through and smashed in the second goal in stoppage-time to wrap up the win for Sweden, the 2003 World Cup runners-up and beaten Olympic finalists in 2016.
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