US clobber Trini women 7-0

SAN JOSE: Shannon Boxx scored three goals for the United States and Patricia Perez netted three for Mexico as both teams opened their Olympic women’s soccer qualifying campaigns with easy wins on Wednesday. The two-time world champion Americans crushed Trinidad and Tobago 7-0, while Mexico blanked Haiti 5-0. Eight teams are competing at the CONCACAF tournament for two berths in the Olympics in Athens. Mia Hamm, soccer’s career goals leader, scored twice for the United States, while Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach had one each.

The Americans dominated despite playing 20 minutes of the second half with only 10 players because Leslie Osborne was sidelined after a collision with an opponent. Osborne, who knocked heads with a Trinidad defender, returned for the final five minutes. The United States quickly demonstrated why it is a favourite to take one of the two Olympic slots, scoring six goals in the first half. Boxx opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Lilly followed with a goal in the 27th off a pass by Hamm. Then Hamm’s corner kick set up a second goal by Boxx. In the 43rd minute, Hamm blasted a shot past goalkeeper Nicole Mitchell-Thomas into the upper left corner of the net.

In the final two minutes of the half, Wambach put the United States up 5-0 and fired a pass to Hamm, who knocked in her second goal. Boxx scored her third in the 82nd minute on a pass from Aly Wagner. The Americans next play Haiti, while Mexico faces Trinidad and Tobago today. In the other match, Perez opened the scoring for Mexico in the sixth minute after a soaring pass left her alone in front of the goal. In the second half, she knocked in goals in the 55th and 63rd minutes.
Maribel Dominguez had the other two goals for Mexico.

Teams: USA: Briana Scurry; Christie Pearce, Cat Reddick, Shannon Boxx, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy (capt) (Aly Wagner 46th), Kristine Lilly, Joy Fawcett, Kate Sobrero, Lindsay Tarpley (Leslie Osborne 46th), Abby Wambach (Shannon McMillan 71st).
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Nicole Mitchell-Thomas; Janelle Noel, Nadia James (Niasha Reyes 69th), Jinelle James (Natalie Des Vignes 71st), Regina McGee, Maylee Attin-Johnson, Tasha St. Louis, Kathy-Ann Nixon (capt), Ahkeela Mollon, Leslie-Ann James, Terrie-Lisa John (Raeann Elder 53rd).