Women's World Cup 2019: United States thrash Thailand 13-0 to break all-time World Cup record
Alex Morgan scored five goals as holders showed no mercy to Group F rivals
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Your support makes all the difference.The United States thrashed a hapless Thailand 13-0 on Tuesday night to record the biggest-ever win in World Cup finals history, across both men’s and women’s tournaments.
Alex Morgan scored five goals as the reigning world champions romped to victory at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, leaving several Thai players visibly upset at full time.
The margin of victory surpasses Germany’s 11-0 over Argentina in the group stages at the 2007 Women’s World Cup, while it is four goals greater than the existing men’s record.
Morgan’s five-goal haul equals the record number scored by Michelle Akers, her fellow American, against Chinese Taipei in 1991.
Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis both registered braces for the United States, while Lindsay Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mal Pugh and Carli Loyd also added their names to the scoresheet.
Jill Ellis’ side are well-fancied to retain their status as world champions and showed no mercy to their Group F opponents until after the final whistle.
Suchawadee Nildhamrong, an American-born Thai player, was comforted by Morgan at full time. For Thailand, ranked 34th in the world, it represents their all-time biggest defeat.
“Every goal matters in this tournament and that is what we were working on,” Morgan said. ”We were really clinical in the attacks we did get.
“I am speechless. The ball just bounced my way today and I am looking forward to the next game.
“To see Rose Lavalle have the confidence to go at players, Sam Mewis taking on players and scoring from outside the box, they showed really well. I am really proud of them.”
Though some will question whether the United States needed to press for more goals and humiliate their opponents, Ellis praised her players’ mindset in her post-match comments.
“I think the attitude was spot on, the forward produced and we kept a clean sheet,” she said. ”We wanted to come out and attack and we did that.
“You want your forwards hot in a tournament and it is a great start especially for Alex Morgan. Hopefully she carries it on through the tournament.
“It was awesome, I was in tears watching them. It verifies who we picked. It is about building momentum and that is part of the process.
“You want the players to leave with a good feeling, if they are in a good place mentally that is a big step.”
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