Jaedyn Shaw’s first-half brace helped the U.S. women’s national team cruise to a 4-0 victory over Argentina in a Group A match of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup on Friday in Carson, Calif.
Coupled with a 5-0 win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, the U.S. secured a spot in the quarterfinals with one group match left vs. Mexico in Carson on Monday.
The quarterfinals will be played March 2-3 in Los Angeles before the tournament moves to San Diego for the semifinals on March 6 and the final on March 10.
Shaw, 19, scored in the 10th and 17th minutes for a 2-0 lead. She followed a pair of goals by Olivia Moultrie, 18, vs. the Dominican Republic to mark the first time in program history that two different teenagers had multiple goals in back-to-back matches.
Alex Morgan netted her 123rd goal in the 19th minute for a 3-0 halftime advantage.
Shaw was denied a hat trick in the 73rd minute when her redirect of a Jenna Nighswonger shot hit the right post.
After the U.S. was awarded a penalty when Miriam Mayorga was called for a handball — her second yellow meant an ejection — it was Lindsey Horan, not Shaw, who converted from the spot in the 77th minute for her 32nd goal. Shaw was substituted off a minute later.
This was the fifth all-time meeting but the first in an official competition as the U.S. continued it mastery over South American opponents with a 26-match unbeaten streak.
Despite the dominant scoreline, the Argentines provided an early scare when Mariana Larroquette’s shot from outside the box hit the bar.
A minute later, Shaw scored her third goal in her sixth international match with a perfectly executed quick restart. Horan deftly passed to Shaw on the left side of the box against the unsuspecting Argentines, and Shaw scored to the near post.
She doubled the count seven minutes later with a first-time strike to the right corner off a Rose Lavelle cross from the left flank.
Morgan scored on a 12-yard headed floater after a pass by Casey Krueger.
–Field Level Media