New Zealand defender Meikayla Moore scored three goals — for the U.S. women's national team — and the Americans won in a bizarre manner, 5-0, in Carson, Calif., on Sunday in their second match of the SheBelieves Cup.
The Americans, who tied the Czech Republic 0-0 in their tourney opener on Thursday, got all the help they needed when Moore had own goals in the 5th, 6th and 36th minutes.
Members of the U.S. team took over from there. Ashley Hatch made it 4-0 in the 51st with a snap header via a service by Sofia Huerta, and Mallory Pugh scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.
.@ash_hatch33 wastes no time after subbing on to make it 4-0 pic.twitter.com/lMOyrsiBHi
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
.@MalPugh puts the icing on the cake pic.twitter.com/7y1h4MHfod
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
The U.S. (1-0-1, 4 points) moved into first place pending the outcome of the match later between Iceland (1-0-0, 3 points) and the Czech Republic (0-0-1, 1 point). New Zealand has lost both matches. The tournament wraps up Wednesday in Frisco, Texas, when New Zealand plays the Czech Republic before Iceland and the U.S. meet.
Moore tried to stop a cross from Sophia Smith but redirected the ball off her right leg for the 1-0 score.
.@sophsssmith making things happen early for the opener!!! #SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/CpAvjdhqU1
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
A minute later, Midge Purce's header from the center of the box was going wide but instead glanced off Moore's head.
.@schuerta + @100Purcent wreak havoc to double the lead! #SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/pR3mLaLzg4
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
The third goal was the result of a Purce cross from the right wing. Moore stuck out her foot to clear the ball, but again it went horribly wrong.
name's Purce, because @100Purcent is always in her bag pic.twitter.com/GAss2w9txG
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
It was the first time the USWNT had been the beneficiary of three own goals in a game.
With the victory, the U.S. extended its home unbeaten streak to 64 matches (57-0-7). Alyssa Naeher made one save for the U.S., which has not allowed a goal on home soil in nearly two years. They last conceded a goal on March 11, 2020, in a 3-1 win over Japan in the final match of the SheBelieves Cup. Since then, they've kept a program-record 16 straight home shutouts.
