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Alex Morgan scored five times as the United States opened their Women’s World Cup title defence with a record-breaking 13-0 victory over Thailand in Reims.
There was also a brace apiece for Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis as Jill Ellis’ side registered the biggest win in the competition’s history, bettering Germany’s 11-0 triumph against Argentina in 2007.
Morgan became only the second player to score five times in a Women’s World Cup game, a feat previously achieved by compatriot Michelle Akers.
🎈 Alex Morgan Appreciation Tweet 🎈@USWNT @alexmorgan13 #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/6H86D0zts7 — FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 11, 2019
Morgan had already had an effort ruled out for offside when she opened the scoring with a 12th-minute header.
Eight minutes later Lavelle hit a shot from outside the box that goalkeeper Sukanya Chor Charoenying got hands to but failed to keep out and it was 3-0 just after the half-hour mark when Thailand failed to deal with a Tobin Heath free-kick and Lindsey Horan fired in.
Yep, that will do it ✊🏻Top of the group after today’s dub.#USA | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/sfR1kG5MZu — U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 11, 2019
The US then stepped things up in the second half, starting by netting four times in a stunning six-minute sequence.
Mewis got the first of those goals in the 50th minute with a deflected strike, Morgan made it 5-0 from close range three minutes later and Mewis then added her second before Lavelle did likewise by sending a shot under Chor Charoenying.
Morgan subsequently produced a neat turn and finish in the 74th minute to complete her hat-trick.
And, after Megan Rapinoe had taken the score to 9-0 by finishing off a break, Morgan struck again to make it double figures.
Substitutes Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also got on the score sheet, either side of Morgan smashing in her fifth of a remarkable evening.
