ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Pride star Alex Morgan scored her first international goal since the birth of her daughter to help the U.S. women’s national team to a 6-0 rout of Argentina on Wednesday at Exploria Stadium.
The victory clinched the Americans’ second consecutive SheBelieves Cup title after wins over Canada and Brazil. The U.S. extended its win streak to 30 matches spanning more than two years.
Midfielder Rose Lavelle earned Most Valuable Player of the tournament honors after assisting the opening goal of the night against Argentina.
The Americans poured on immediate pressure, forcing the backline up to the midfield line to create a suffocating full press. Argentina remained trapped in its own half, attempting to hold off waves of attack.
Forward Megan Rapinoe sparked the early flood of pressure, knocking in two goals in the first 26 minutes of play.
The first came when Lavelle chipped a ball over the backline after a turnover, slipping Rapinoe free for a one-on-one with the keeper. Carli Lloyd assisted the second, breaking into the box to send a scorching pass to Rapinoe in the box again.
Rapinoe returned the favor in the 35th minute, spinning a ball between a defender’s legs to set up Lloyd for a goal. Kristie Mewis scored a final first-half goal to give the Americans a 4-0 lead.
With the early lead in hand, coach Vlatko Andonovski used the second half to test out some of the younger players on the roster, bringing 20-year-old forward Sophia Smith and 21-year-old midfielder Jaelin Howell into the match.
Morgan also entered the match in the second half. After several close attempts, the striker broke through in the 84th minute, darting into the middle of the box to slip a left-footed shot past the keeper.
It was Morgan’s first goal since her game-winning score against England in the 2019 World Cup, which preceded her iconic tea-sipping celebration.
Forward Christen Press added one final goal in the 88th minute to complete the 6-0 rout.
