Crystal Dunn and the United States women’s national soccer team demonstrated the awesome power of their depth and youth at Puerto Rico’s expense.
Dunn scored five goals in the United States’ 10-0 win over Puerto Rico on Monday in the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship. Dunn, 23, joined Michelle Akers, Brandi Chastain, Sydney Leroux, Tiffeny Milbrett, Amy Rodriguez and Abby Wambach as the only Team USA players to score five goals in a single game.
“I’d like to think this is a special moment,” Dunn said, according to the Associated Press. “But I’d love to think there’s more to come.”
Dunn had scored five goals in 23 games in her national-team career prior to Monday’s explosion.
She opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a nice turn and finish.
Her second came in the 20th minute after Puerto Rico’s goalkeeper made some positional and technical mistakes.
She sealed her hat trick in the 62nd minute with a well-placed shot from 22 yards out.
Dunn volleyed home her fourth goal of the night in the 85th minute.
Dunn tied Team USA’s record just two minutes later.
Many wondered how much firepower Team USA had at its disposal in the aftermath of Abby Wambach’s retirement and the pregnancies of Leroux and Rodriguez, who both will sit out this summer’s Olympics.
Alex Morgan started answering those questions last Thursday when she scored Team USA’s fastest-ever goal, which sparked the 5-0 win over Costa Rica.
Next, the United States earned a narrow 1-0 win over Mexico last Saturday to clinch a spot in the all-important semifinals — the winners of both games advance to the 2016 Rio Olympics — and allow head coach Jill Ellis to rest many of her regular starters for the group-stage rubber match against Puerto Rico.
Someone forgot to tell Dunn the Puerto Rico game meant less than the others, and U.S. soccer fans are happier for it.
Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
