USWNT dismantles Jamaica 5-0 at CONCACAF W Championship

A rotated USWNT was nonetheless dominant against the Reggae Girlz

The U.S. women’s national team left no doubts, dismantling Jamaica 5-0 at the CONCACAF W Championship and putting themselves on the brink of qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Sophia Smith’s early brace set the USWNT on their way, as an improved performance came with a fair scoreline at full time.

The USWNT’s changes didn’t come with a cost, as Smith paced them to a 2-0 lead after just eight minutes. First, the spectacular: Naomi Girma opened the game up with a diagonal out to Smith on the right, where the Portland Thorns FC forward dinked the ball over defenders before an outside-of-foot lob to the back post for a fifth minute opener.

Smith scored again by dinking the ball over goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer in the eighth minute, with the goal ruled to have crossed the line before Jamaica could clear off the line.

Ashley Hatch, one of five changes to the lineup, thumped home an 11th minute strike from close range only to be called offside as Jamaica had no answer for the USWNT.

The onslaught continued throughout the first 30 minutes. Hatch saw a 25th minute shot clip the crossbar, while Mallory Pugh’s 27th minute goal was called back on a narrow VAR decision as Vlatko Andonovski’s side set up shop in the Jamaica half. Spencer made a good double save to deny Smith and Rose Lavelle minutes later, before Jamaica finally managed to stem the tide and get into halftime without further damage.

Hatch then clipped the post on a looping half-volley four minutes into the second half before the third finally arrived in the 59th. Ashley Sanchez raced in behind the Jamaican defense out on the left, crossing near-post for Hatch. The Washington Spirit duo didn’t connect, but the ball ran on to Lavelle at the back post for a calm finish past Spencer.

Halftime substitute Midge Purce won a penalty in the closing minutes that Kristie Mewis stepped up to fire confidently past Spencer in the 83rd minute, before a second substitute, Trinity Rodman, got on the scoresheet with a tap-in created by Pugh three minutes later.

The USWNT will assure themselves of a top two spot in Group A— and thus qualify for the World Cup—if Mexico and Haiti’s game later on Thursday ends in a draw. The final U.S. game in the group stage is Monday night, as they take on Mexico at Estadio Universitario in a 10:00pm Eastern kickoff.

Watch all those USWNT goals right here

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