USWNT 5-0 Dominican Republic: Americans make perfect start to CONCACAF W Gold Cup as Alex Morgan comes off the bench to score penalty after last-minute call up

Olivia Moultrie scored twice in her first national team start as the United States defeated the Dominican Republic 5-0 in the inaugural CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup tournament on Tuesday night.

Moultrie, 18, made only her third appearance in the national team and scored her first goal in the seventh minute when she stretched to tap the ball over the goal line.

Lynn Williams added a goal in the 30th minute after a pass from Midge Purce, making it 2–0 in the American team’s first match of the year.

Purce also fed Moultrie for her second goal in the 59th minute. Moultrie, who plays for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League, is the third-youngest player to score multiple goals in a match for the United States.

“I’m pretty ecstatic right now. “I was so happy to be on the field tonight, it’s great to get the chance to start,” Moultrie said.

18-year-old Olivia Moultrie scored a brace during her win in her USWNT senior debut

Moultrie notched her first goal in the 7th minute before scoring her second in the 58th minute

Jenna Nighswonger scored her first goal for the US from the penalty spot in the 86th minute to make it 4-0.

Alex Morgan, who was brought into the team earlier on Tuesday, came on as a substitute in the second half. Morgan was a roster replacement for Mia Fishel, who tore a ligament in her right knee during practice a day earlier.

Morgan, who normally wears No. 13, wore Fishel’s No. 7 due to CONCACAF rules.

Morgan converted a penalty in stoppage time to round off the scoring. It was her 122nd international goal.

It was the sixth victory for the United States under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over when coach Vlatko Andonovski left the team following the Americans’ disappointing finish at the Women’s World Cup last summer.

Kilgore will coach the United States until May, when Emma Hayes, currently Chelsea coach, takes over. Purce said Kilgore did a good job of making sure everyone was on the same page.

“I think we’re playing against a low block, so it gives us an opportunity for a lot of creativity,” Purce said. ‘And we have a lot of creative players on the front line. So it’s really fun. It was a nice day.’

Alex Morgan, who was brought into the team earlier on Tuesday, scored after coming on

Korbin Albert, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, also made her first start.

Veteran defender Becky Sauerbrunn, the match captain, was also added to the squad late as Alana Cook suffered a minor knee injury. It was Sauerbrunn’s 216th cap.

The Dominican Republic secured a place in Group A with a 1-0 win over Guyana on Saturday. Kathrynn González scored the only goal early in the second half.

Gonzalez, a native of Pennsylvania, came on as a substitute against the United States in the second half.

Earlier Tuesday, Argentina and Mexico played out a scoreless draw at Dignity Health Sports Park, home of Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy, to open Group A play.

There are three pools of four teams in the tournament, with games in Carson, San Diego and Houston.

The United States plays against Argentina on Friday evening in Carson.