Heather O'Reilly (#9) scored in an international friendly against visiting Thailand in Columbus, Ohio, on September 15, 2016; her final game for the USA. (Photo: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Veteran midfielder Heather O'Reilly received a fine send-off in her final international match, setting up the first goal and scoring the third as the United States recorded a 9-0 win over visiting Thailand in an international friendly at MAPFRE Stadium on Thursday night.
Midfielder Carli Lloyd played a key role on seven goals, recording a hat-trick and assisting on four others.
Playing in her 231st international match, O'Reilly created Lloyd's first goal only 39 seconds into the game. O'Reilly received the ball on the right side, beat her marker to the end line before crossing the ball to Lloyd, who beat goalkeeper Yada Sengyong for all the scoring the Americans needed.
O'Reilly, 31, who captained the U.S. squad, played the full 90 minutes. She retires with three Olympic gold medals, a 2002 Under-19 FIFA Women's World Cup title and a 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup championship.
Only a minute after Christen Press tallied off of a Lloyd feed, O'Reilly found the back of the net in the fifth minute.
This time Lloyd returned the favor as the 2015 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year ran onto a misplayed back pass by midfielder Warunee Phetwiset. She raced into the left side of the penalty area before cutting the ball back to O'Reilly, who connected for her 47th international goal and a 3-0 advantage in the fifth minute.
Tobin Heath's 36th-minute score increased the margin to 4-0 by halftime.
The CONCACAF champion, which held a 32-7 advantage in shots over Thailand, added five goals in the second half. Lloyd finished in the 60th and 81st minutes, while Alex Morgan contributed two late tallies (86’, 90’+2). Crystal Dunn also scored in the 70th minute.
The U.S. meets the Netherlands in another friendly Sunday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
International Friendly
September 15, 2016: MAPFRE Stadium -- Columbus, Ohio, USA (Att: 10,490)
USA-Thailand 9-0 (4-0)
Carli Lloyd 1’, 60’, 81’; Christen Press 4’; Heather O'Reilly 5’; Tobin Heath 36’; Crystal Dunn 70’; Alex Morgan 86’, 90’+2
USA: Ashlyn Harris; Kelley O'Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston (Crystal Dunn 64’), Ali Krieger (Meghan Klingenberg 46’), Allie Long (Emily Sonnett 46’), Samantha Mewis (Lindsey Horan 46’), Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Christen Press (Alex Morgan 46’), Tobin Heath (Megan Rapinoe 46’). Head Coach: Jill Ellis
Thailand: Yada Sengyong; Kanjanaporn Saenkhun, Duangnapa Sritala, Pikul Khueanpet, Silawan Intamee (Wilaiporn Boothduang 82’), Warunee Phetwiset, Sunisa Srangthaisong, Alisa Rukpinij (Anootsara Maijarern 65’), Rattikan Thongsombut (Kanjana Sung-ngoen 46’), Orathai Srimanee (Naphat Seesraum 65’), Pitsamai Sornsai (Nisa Romyen 82’). Head Coach: Spencer Prior
R: Christina Unkel (USA); AR1: Amanda Ross (USA); AR2: Julieann Mc Dougall (Trinidad & Tobago); 4th: Margaret Domka (USA)
