Tobin Heath (pictured) scored two goals in the USA's 5-0 CONCACAF Women's Championship win over Guatemala on October 17, 2014, in Bridgeview, Illinois. (Photo: Mexsport)
BRIDGEIVEW, Illinois -- The United States moved closer to booking spot in the semifinals of the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship (CWC) after recording a 5-0 Group A victory over Guatemala on Friday night.
Tobin Heath scored two goals and Carli Lloyd, Whitney Engen and Megan Rapinoe added one apiece for the Americans (2-0-0, 6 points), who scored four times in the second half at Toyota Park.
The Guatemalans (0-0-2, 0 points) suffered their 11th straight CWC shutout and loss.
The USA needs only a draw against Haiti in its final group match in Washington, D.C., on Monday to clinch a place in the semifinals. The semifinal winners will qualify for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
U.S. captain Christie Rampone and high-scoring striker Abby Wambach were rested by head coach Jill Ellis.
Heath gave the Americans a seventh-minute lead, sliding in a loose ball in front of the net. Ali Krieger sent in right-wing cross that Sydney Leroux touched to Heath, beating goalkeeper Alicia Navas.
The Americans suffered a potentially devastating loss when striker Alex Morgan injured her left ankle sprain in a collision with Londy Barrios. The severity of the injury was not immediately known and Morgan was replaced by Christen Press in the 42nd minute. Three minutes later, Press thought she had scored off Meghan Klingenberg's right-wing cross, but was ruled to be offside.
Only 32 seconds into the second half, the U.S. doubled its lead as Lloyd connected for her 52nd international goal, heading home Leroux's left-wing cross from five yards.
The host broke the game open with strikes in the 57th and 58th minutes off two Rapinoe set pieces.
The Seattle Reign hit a line-drive corner kick to Lloyd, who tipped the ball for Heath to flick it past Navas for a 3-0 lead. Then, Rapinoe launched a free kick from the left side that Engen headed home at the near post and a four-goal margin.
Rapinoe extended the lead to 5-0, firing in a 20-yard effort in the 66th minute.
