The United States (pictured) poses for a photo after winning the CONCACAF Women's Championship on October 26, 2014, defeating Costa Rica 6-0 in the final at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. (Photo: Mexsport)
CHESTER, Pennsylvania – Thanks to a stunning offensive display, the United States posted a 6-0 win over Costa Rica in the final of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship (CWC) on Sunday at PPL Park.
A pair of CWC final marks were broken in the process. Abby Wambach set a new record for most goals scored in a final with four, while the Americans also raised the bar for the most goals scored by a single team.
Though both teams had previously secured tickets to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a trophy at stake, the match was contested at a high-octane pace. The U.S. struck for four goals before halftime – three from Wambach -- and added two more during a two-minute stretch in the second half.
It was the seventh CONCACAF Women’s Championship title for the U.S., while Costa Rica was competing in its first Confederation final.
Wambach netted her first in just the fourth minute. Megan Rapinoe started the sequence with a right-sided corner kick that Christen Press stabbed towards Meghan Klingenberg, who was charging in from outside the box. The defender fired towards net, but it was blocked a Costa Rican. Stationed on the left, Morgan Brian lofted the loose ball lightly for Wambach to head home from four-yards out.
Another Rapinoe corner kick, this one from the left, was the catalyst for the next U.S. tally in the 17th minute. At the back post, Wambach sent a header at goal and the well-positioned Carli Lloyd was there to redirect it with her head past goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz from close range.
Lloyd returned the favor 18 minutes later. Her short cross from the left side of the box was headed in by Wambach from three-yards out to make it 3-0.
The U.S. struck for its fourth goal four minutes before the break and it was Wambach with another header. Once again, Lloyd, who won the Golden Ball as the CWC’s best player, delivered a short chip from the left that Wambach headed in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Costa Rica managed to hold the U.S. attack at bay for the early stages of the second half, but Wambach decided to add a little variety to her performance in the 71st minute. On this occasion, after collecting Sydney Leroux’s pass from the midfield line, the Western New York Flash forward drilled a right-footed shot into left-side netting. The goal broke the record for the most by a player in a CWC final, which the legendary Michelle Akers held since 1991.
In the 73rd minute, though, Leroux resumed the heading trend, notching her first of the tournament.
NOTES: The U.S. improved to 5-0-0 in CWC finals, outscoring its opposition 16-2 … Wambach also broke Michelle Akers’ record for most Women’s World Cup Qualifying goals by an American with 18.
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