The U.S. national team broke records with a devastating 13-0 victory over Thailand in the Women’s World Cup last night. The U.S. and Thailand were the last two teams to kick off the season in the group stage of the month-long tournament.
Striker Alex Morgan sunk five goals to tie with Michelle Akers’ record for most number of World Cup goals in a single game, set in the 1991 quarterfinals against Chinese Taipei.
With the lopsided win, the United States women’s team broke the record for most goals and largest margin victory in a World Cup game.
The previous record margin was held by Germany since 2007 with its 11-0 victory against Argentina.
Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle each contributed two goals, with Lindsey Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd capping off the 13-0 victory.
However, the US women’s football team did not get a lot of praise from commentators and social media as their behaviour was graceless and not in the right spirit of the game!
WCNC
Former Canadian international midfielder Clare Rustad stated that she thought the U.S. team lacked grace toward their opponents in their mad dash to break records. The U.S. women’s team could have won with “humility” and showcased their character and class.
The USWNT displayed poor sportsmanship excessively celebrating many of the 13 goals against a 34th ranked team. It has nothing to do with the final score. You are one of the best teams in the world. Act like it. And yeah, I definitely would have said the same about a men’s team.
— Clare Rustad (@ClareRustad) June 11, 2019
World Cup broadcaster and former player Kaylyn Kyle aired similar sentiments and it wasn’t long before social media also voiced their opinion of the poor character displayed by the U.S team in the manner in which they celebrated their goals and rubbed the drubbing into their opposition.
Momentum With Team USA
The U.S. women’s team is currently ranked No. 1 in the world with a 7-1-2 overall slate this year. The team has only lost once in their last 38 match, a drubbing from France in Le Havre in January. With six straight wins going into its World Cup campaign, the team who are our favourites was poised to go hard against Thailand.
Thailand, ranked No. 34 in the world was severely outmatched despite showing great progress and growth on the world stage. Thailand played their first world cup in 2015 and bowed out third in its group. The Thais played reasonably well for their first World Cup edition and secured a 3-2 victory over Ivory Coast.
The U.S. team pounced on Thailand as early as the 13th minute with a header from Morgan, their upper-hand beginning to snowball along with their momentum, culminating in the one-sided victory.
Only four teams have won a World Cup since the tournament was established in 1991, they are the United States, Germany, Japan, and Norway. The Americans still hold the record for most titles won by any country.
The United States is slated to face World Cup newcomer Chile next on June 16 in Paris