ALAJUELA, Costa Rica -- The defending champion United States took only 92 seconds to score its first goal and overwhelmed sentimental favorite Haiti 9-0 on Wednesday to open the second CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship.
Haiti, which played less than two months after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed an estimated 270,000 in the country, struggled throughout the game. It didn't manage any possession in the offensive third until the 72nd minute and rarely managed to hold the ball in the American half.
"It was very difficult with most of the players having lost parents, family and friends," Haitian coach James Morisset said. "During the game and practices, they've been crying and they'll do their best to give Haiti a smile in this tournament."
Alexandra Doll scored early and Taylor Smith had two in the first half as the United States quickly established dominance and never was challenged. Lindsay Horan scored four in the final 23 minutes to complete the rout.
Haiti was outmatched in speed, skill and strength, but also was dealing with extraordinary circumstances. Team officials said everybody on the team had been left homeless from the quake and reserve goalkeeper for the match, Madeline Delice, lost both of her parents.
Except for a brief moment immediately after the opening kickoff, Haiti was unable to possess the ball in the U.S. half again until the 14th minute.
Horan set up the first goal for the Unite States, outraicing defender Roselord Borgella down the right side of the penalty area and sending a low cross to Doll, who tapped in from inside the six-yard box.
Smith doubled the lead in the 13th minute. U.S. captain Morgan Brian, who twice hit the post in the first half, settled a free kick in the penalty area from Olivia Brannon before dropping a short ball to Smith, who launched a right-footed shot from 16 meters.
Horan set up a second goal in the 16th, sending a cross to Cari Roccaro unmarked at the backpost for an easy header.
Smith added her second in the 31st, Brian finally scored one of her own in the 51st and Horan added goals 67th and 72nd minutes, a penalty in the 87th and a finale in the first minute of injury time to complete the scoring.
"I was just trying to put the balls away," Horan said. "I got some good balls from teammates, and I was trying to put them away."
Two sides will emerge from the eight-team championship to advance to the Under-17 World Cup along with host Trinidad in September.
The United States is a favorite to return to the World Cup, where it lost in the title match two years ago to Korea DPR.
