Skip to content

Morgan scores 5, USWNT crushes Thailand 13-0 in World Cup opener

Alex Caparros - FIFA / FIFA / Getty

The reigning World Cup champion showed no mercy Tuesday.

The United States kicked off its title defense by hammering Thailand in Reims, getting five goals from star striker Alex Morgan en route to a 13-0 win. The result sets the record for the most lopsided win in Women's World Cup history, surpassing Germany's 11-0 victory over Argentina in 2007.

As expected, the contest was one-way traffic right from the opening whistle.

Morgan, Rose Lavelle, and Lindsey Horan all found the net in the opening half at the Stade Auguste-Delaune. Were it not for some desperate defending in the waning seconds, including one wild sequence that featured a handful of blocked shots, it would have been much more going into the interval.

Not that it mattered much.

The U.S. erupted for four goals in a six-minute spell early in the second half; Samantha Mewis nabbed a quick brace, while Morgan and Lavelle added to their tallies to establish a 7-0 lead.

Mewis' first strike of the match was the 800th goal in the history of the Women's World Cup.

The Americans didn't take their foot off the gas, either.

Morgan completed her hat-trick with a clinical finish in the 74th minute; Megan Rapinoe got in on the fun five minutes later. Substitutes Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd both got on the scoresheet, their goals coming around two more for Morgan, who already has one hand on the Golden Boot award.

Mercifully, the referee blew the final whistle after three minutes of added time.

Jill Ellis' side will continue its quest for a fourth World Cup title Sunday in the French capital, where Chile awaits. The World Cup debutants are coming off a 2-0 loss to Sweden in their Group F opener.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox