ALAJUELA, Costa Rica - Morgan Brian scored three goals in the first 28 minutes and the United States crushed the Cayman Islands 13-0 Friday night to virtually assure itself of a semifinal berth in the CONCACAF Under-17 Women's Championship.
It was the second straight rout by the Americans, which lost the U-17 Women's World Cup title match to Korea DPR two years ago.
For the Cayman Islands, it was the second straight lopsided loss after suffering a 7-0 beating by Costa Rica on Wednesday. The United States opened with a 9-0 victory over Haiti.
Lindsay Horan, who had four goals against Haiti, scored two more Friday, including the first 1:56 after the opening kickoff. Brian added goals in the 16th, 23rd and 28th minutes to add to her lone tally against Haiti, Havana Solaun had three, and Isabel Farrell scored twice.
Kaili Torres, Kaysie Clark and Taylor Smith also had goals for the Americans, who finish their group schedule Sunday against the host Costa Ricans.
The Cayman Islands, a three-island nation of 49,000 playing in only its second CONCACAF championship finals and first for a women's team, was overwhelmed from the opening kickoff, managing only two touches in the U.S. half in the opening 45 minutes.
The Caribbean side, which beat the British Virgin Islands 13-0 in qualifying, included 12-year-old Chelsea Greene in its starting 11.
The Americans exploited their younger, slower opponents, repeatedly sending diagonal passes behind a static Cayman Islands back line.
Torres sent a short ball from near midfield into open space behind the defense and Horan dribbled 35 yards into the area untouched. She had time to look up before hitting a low, rolling shot between goalkeeper Emily Kelly and the near post from the edge of the goal box for the first goal.
Brian converted a pass from Clark, who like Horan was able to chase a ball into space, for the second American goal in the 16th and rout followed soon after. The victory could have been even worse had Lauda Liedle not pulled a penalty attempt wide in the 68th minute.
The Cayman Islands managed no possession in the American half and Kelly was so active - often coming off her line to defuse probing passes played between her and her defense, she began suffering from what appeared to be leg cramps by the 31st minute.
The loss all but mathematically eliminated the Caymans and will finish its group stage against fellow Caribbean side Haiti on Sunday.
