CANCUN, Mexico – Abby Wambach scored three times, twice in the first half, and helped out on another to pace the three-time defending champion United States to a 5-0 victory over Haiti Thursday night in the opening game for both at the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying.
Rachel Buehler scored her first career international goal less than nine minutes after the opening kickoff and Amy Rodriguez also scored, overwhelming a Haiti team that struggled to hold possession in the American half and didn’t manage a shot on goal until the 37th minute.
The United States improved to 24-1-0 in the CONCACAF women’s championship and won its 17th straight in World Cup qualifiers.
For the Haiti, which is still dealing with the after effects of January’s earthquake – including a recent cholera outbreak that has killed more than 300, it was the sixth loss in seven games in the CONCACAF women’s championship finals since finishing fourth at the inaugural tournament in 1991.
The Americans earned a corner 1:46 into the match and dominated throughout. Yael Averbuch curled a corner kick off the far post in the third minute, and Carli Lloyd hit the left post twice – once with her head and an immediate follow-up with her foot – in the 17th as the United States repeatedly tested Haitian keeper Geralda Saintillius.
The Americans went ahead when Lloyd blasted a squared rolling ball from a free kick that Saintillius was able to block but not hold, and Buehler – making her 43rd appearance for the United States — ran into smack in the rebound from inside the six-yard box.
Wambach doubled the lead in the 15th when Shannon Boxx headed Averbuch’s corner into the middle of the penalty area and the United States’ third-best career scoring leader flicked it backward with the top of her head past Saintillius.
Rodriguez received help from Wambach for her goal in the 40th. Averbuch’s corner was volleyed at the back post by an onrushing Wambach along the byline, where Rodriguez merely tapped it in.
Wambach scored her second 11 seconds into injury time when Lloyd twisted free of Wislin Dolce inside the area and sent a waist high cross across the top of the six-yard box. Wambach raced in from the other side and knocked the ball in with her hip.
Wambach completed her night in the 62nd, finishing after Kristine Lilly worked free at the top of the area and sent a left-footed cross to the back post. Wambach raced in and bounced a header down under Saintillius.
It was the 112th career goal for Wambach, who trails only Mia Hamm (158) and Lilly (130) for the most goals by an American woman. For Lilly, the assist came in her ever extending record of 350 appearances for the United States.
Haiti didn’t manage any possession in the offensive third until it earned a corner kick in the 22nd, and didn’t get a shot at goal until Tatiana Mathelier launched a 30-meter attempt high and wide in the 34th.
It didn’t fare much better in the second half, never testing U.S. keeper Nicole Barnhart while Santillius and her back four appeared to fatigue under the relentless American pressure. Haiti’s only legitimate chance came in the 88th, when a loose ball fell to Adeline Saintilmond, whose right-footed shot from the top of the area went wide left of Barnhart’s post.
The match was reminiscent of a meeting in March between the two nations in the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, when the United States routed Haiti 9-0.