|
Game stats: 
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Sydney Leroux scored five times after entering the game to start the second half and the United States assured itself of a semifinal berth in CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying with a 13-0 win over Guatemala on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Leroux, a Vancouver native who played in the Canadian youth system before joining the Americans, scored her first goal for the senior U.S. side less than three minutes after making her second appearance for the team.
"I know that there are some people that don't respect my decision and there are some who do, and not everyone is going to like you and I feel you have to have some enemies in life or else you're not doing something right," Leroux said about her switch from Canada to the United States. "I'm happy. I'm happy where I am and I'm happy to wear this jersey and that's how it is."
The United States will face Mexico, 7-0 winners over the Dominican Republic earlier Sunday, for the Group B title on Tuesday. A draw would be enough for the Americans to finish atop the group and face the runner-up from Group A - either Canada or Costa Rica - in the semifinals.
The semifinal winners qualify for the London Olympics.
"I would look it as we are ready," U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. "If you look at today we struggled at the beginning. Something I said at half was, look at the first 15 minutes, you can't take anything for granted. You have to bring it. They picked it up after the first 15-20 minutes. "
Abby Wambach scored twice in 45 minutes to increase her career total to 129, one short of Kristine Lilly for second-most in U.S. women's history.
It was the second straight lopsided win for the United States, which routed the Dominican Republic 14-0 on Friday in their tournament opener.
Leroux, the Golden Ball winner for the United States when it won the 2008 U-20 Women's World Cup, took a touch from Alex Morgan and hit a right-footed shot from 12 yards for her first. Amy Rodriguez sent in a cross that Leroux headed in from two meters in the 51st, and then had a sliding touch in the middle of the goal box to knock in a cross from Morgan in the 57th.
Kelly O'Hara, who had crosses to set up goals by Carli Lloyd and Lori Lindsey in the first half, sent another for Leroux to nod in in the 70th. Amy Rodriguez set up Leroux for her finale in the 87th.
Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney, Megan Rapinoe and Morgan also had goals for the United States.
Like Canada and Mexico, the United States used a significantly different lineup than in its first game. Sundhage made six changes from the starting side against the Dominican Republic. One had to be Ali Krieger, who tore ligaments in her right knee in Friday's game and will miss the next six-to-eight months.
After scoring 38 seconds after kickoff against the Dominicans, the Americans went ahead in the 12th minute on Wambach's first and then added another on Wambach's second two minutes later.
Cheney, Rodriguez - who scored five against the Dominican Republic, Lloyd and Lindsey with her first international goal had the Americans ahead 6-0 by 34th minute.
Wambach had the United States' first shot 52 seconds after the opening kickoff and Guatemala didn't get a shot until Maria Monterroso put a header just wide in the 24th minute.
