USA Women Beat Dominican Republic in Concacaf W Gold Cup Opener as Moultrie Scores Twice

On Tuesday night, Midge Purce and Olivia Moultrie marked the call, leading the United States women's national soccer team to a 5-0 rout of the Dominican Republic in the inaugural Concacaf Women's Gold Cup tournament.

Purce, who helped NJ/NY Gotham FC win the 2023 NWSL championship, contributed three assists, and Moultrie scored her first two goals for the senior national team.

USA Women Defeats Dominican Republic

Moultrie scored her first goal for the national team in her third appearance with them in the seventh minute when she stretched to tap the ball over the goal line.

Lynn Williams added a goal off a pass from Purce in the 30th minute, making it 2-0 in the US team's first game of the year.

In the 59th minute, Moultrie scored her second goal after being passed by Purce. Moultrie, an NWSL player with the Portland Thorns, is the third-youngest American player to score more than one goal in a single game.

Jenna Nighswonger made her first goal for the US on a penalty in the 86th minute to make it 4-0.

Alex Morgan entered the game as a second-half substitute after being added to the squad earlier on Tuesday. Mia Fishel, who had torn a ligament in her right knee during practice the day before, was replaced on the roster by Morgan.

Morgan, who usually wears No. 13, wore Fishel's No. 7 because of Concacaf regulations. She also converted a penalty kick to complete the scoring in stoppage time, which was her 22nd international goal.

It was the team's sixth victory under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over when coach Vlatko Andonovski departed after the Americans' poor performance at the Women's World Cup last summer.

Kilgore will lead the US until May, when Emma Hayes, who is currently Chelsea's coach, takes over.

Paris Saint-Germain player Korbin Albert also made her debut. Veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, who also served as the match's captain, was added to the roster after Alana Cook sustained a minor knee injury.

On Saturday, the Dominican Republic defeated Guyana 1-0 to secure their place in Group A. Kathrynn González scored the lone goal early in the second half.

Gonzalez, a Pennsylvania native, played as a second-half substitute against the US.

On Tuesday, Argentina and Mexico drew scorelessly in their opening Group A match at Dignity Health Sports Park, the home of Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy.

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) CARSON, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Alex Morgan #7 of the United States after a 5-0 win against the Dominican Republic during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 20, 2024 in Carson, California.

USA at FIFA Women's World Cup

The USA is the most successful team, placing third in all eight editions since the inaugural Women's World Cup held in 1991 and winning the trophy four times in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019.

Furthermore, USWNT has been so dominant because of their remarkable victory percentage at the event that they have never completed the tournament outside of the top three. With just four losses in their 50 World Cup matches played thus far, the USA has won 40 of them.

The US may also take pride in having the player with the most individual victories in a Women's World Cup, as if setting team records was not enough. Kristine Lilly now holds the record, who participated in the event and won 24 games.