Former UCLA standout Sydney Leroux assisted on the first two goals and former Peninsula High School standout Whitney Engen scored in the 58th minute as the U.S. defeated Guatemala, 5-0, Friday night in Bridgeview, Illinois in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Leroux reached back with her right foot to the flick the ball toward the six-yard box where Tobin Heath controlled the ball and put a shot into the right side of the goal in the seventh minute of Group A game in the tournament which serves as the region’s qualifier for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Leroux sent a cross to Carli Lloyd in the opening minute of the second half who headed the ball into the net.
Engen headed in Megan Rapinoe’s free kick in the 58th minute, one minute after Heath scored her second goal of the game.
Rapinoe put in a rebound of a shot by Lloyd in the 66th minute for the final goal.
Hope Solo did not need to make a save to record her 75th shutout in international competition.
Former Diamond Bar High School standout Alex Morgan sprained her left ankle in a collision with Guatemala defender Londy Barrios in the 37th minute and was replaced in the 42nd minute by former Chadwick School standout Christen Press.
The victory improved the U.S.’ record in World Cup qualifying to 24-1.
The top two teams in each of the two four-team groups will qualify for the semifinals, which will be played next Friday in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Both of the winning semifinalists and the third-place team will qualify for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, which will be played in Canada. The fourth- place team will play a two-game playoff against the third-place team in South America for a berth in the World Cup.
—City News Service