USWNT Dominates New Zealand 5-0 Behind Three Moore Own Goals

Meikayla Moore’s nightmare performance hands Americans commanding SheBelieves Cup victory

Carson, California – The United States Women’s National Team delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over New Zealand at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon, with three own goals from unfortunate defender Meikayla Moore highlighting a comprehensive performance that moved the Americans to the top of the SheBelieves Cup standings.

The result provided a stark contrast to the USWNT’s previous tournament outing, where they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic despite Trinity Rodman’s promising debut. The victory also came after New Zealand had suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iceland in the tournament’s opening round of matches, with Dagny Brynjarsdottir scoring the fastest goal in SheBelieves Cup history after just 48 seconds.

Moore’s Nightmare Start

The match began disastrously for New Zealand defender Meikayla Moore, who found herself at the center of an unprecedented own goal hat-trick that effectively decided the contest within the opening 36 minutes. The Liverpool defender’s torment began in the 5th minute when she redirected a cross into her own net, giving the Americans an early advantage.

Just one minute later, Moore’s misfortune continued when a header from Margaret Purce bounced off the defender’s head and crossed the line for the second own goal. The cruel twist of fate left the New Zealand defense shell-shocked and provided the USWNT with the perfect platform to build upon.

Moore completed her unwanted hat-trick in the 36th minute with a third own goal, prompting New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova to substitute the devastated defender for Rebekah Stott shortly afterward, ending a brutal afternoon in what was Moore’s 50th cap for her country.

Compassionate Response

The football community’s response to Moore’s plight was immediate and supportive, with New Zealand coach Klimkova providing a compassionate assessment of her defender’s nightmare performance.

“She had a tough day at the office. Obviously, she’s sad and disappointed, but she’s an unbelievable person and player who belongs on this team,” Klimkova said. “We are all behind her in this tough moment for her.”

The supportive response highlighted the unpredictable nature of football and the importance of team unity during difficult moments, contrasting with the more positive individual performances seen in recent matches like Becky Sauerbrunn’s milestone 200th cap.

American Clinical Finishing

While the own goals provided the foundation for victory, the USWNT demonstrated their clinical finishing ability with two well-taken goals of their own. Ashley Hatch opened the Americans’ account with a perfectly placed header in the 51st minute, converting an inch-perfect cross from Sofia Huerta.

“We’ve been working on swinging the ball around to our outside backs and our wingers and making sure that we’re available in the box,” Hatch explained. “Laid a nice one across the face of the goal, and I was able to head it in. So good cross and easy finish.”

Hatch’s goal demonstrated the same clinical finishing that had been on display in recent matches, including her early strikes against Australia and her dramatic late equalizer in Newcastle.

Pugh’s Perfect Finish

Substitute Mallory Pugh added the final flourish in second-half stoppage time, breaking in behind the New Zealand defense and slotting the ball past Erin Nayler with a pinpoint finish to complete the 5-0 rout. The goal showcased the depth available to coach Vlatko Andonovski as he continues to evaluate young talent throughout the tournament.

Naeher’s Return

The match marked a significant milestone for goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who made her first appearance since August 2, 2021, when she was forced to leave the Olympic semifinal against Canada after suffering a knee injury in the 30th minute. Naeher made one save during her return, demonstrating her continued quality between the posts.

The goalkeeper’s comeback provided another positive storyline in a match that had been dominated by Moore’s misfortune, showing the resilience and determination that characterize elite athletes returning from injury.

Tactical Adjustments

Andonovski made six changes to his starting lineup compared to the disappointing draw with the Czech Republic, demonstrating his commitment to evaluating different combinations during the tournament. The changes proved effective as the Americans imposed themselves early and maintained their intensity throughout the match.

“We’re excited about the win. They needed to see goals, and that’s good. We’re hoping that this is just the beginning,” Andonovski said. “I thought that we were able to impose ourselves early on and set up a rhythm of pace that suits us.”

Tournament Implications

The comprehensive victory moved the USWNT to the top of the SheBelieves Cup standings with four points from two games, putting them in an excellent position to claim the tournament title. Iceland sat in second place with three points following their opening victory over New Zealand.

The result also continued the Americans’ remarkable home defensive record, extending their streak of not allowing a goal on home soil to nearly two years, dating back to a 3-1 win over Japan in the final match of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup.

Youth Development Focus

With established stars Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press, and Tobin Heath not included in the roster, the tournament continued to provide valuable opportunities for younger players to showcase their abilities. The comprehensive victory demonstrated the depth available to the national team program as it continues to develop the next generation of talent.

The performance built upon the promising displays seen in the Czech Republic draw, where young players like Trinity Rodman had made their international debuts and shown glimpses of their potential.

Statistical Dominance

The Americans controlled the match with 58.2% possession and created 19 shots compared to New Zealand’s six, with four shots on target leading to the five goals. The statistics reflected the comprehensive nature of the victory and the clinical finishing that had been missing in the previous match against the Czech Republic.

The performance also highlighted the importance of taking chances when they arise, a lesson that had been evident in recent encounters where individual moments had decided outcomes.

Key Statistics

Match Overview:

• Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
• Attendance: Not specified
• Possession: USA 58.2%, New Zealand 41.8%
• Shots: USA 19, New Zealand 6
• Shots on Target: USA 4, New Zealand 1
• Corner Kicks: USA 6, New Zealand 3
• Saves: Nayler 2, Naeher 1

Goal Scorers:

• Meikayla Moore (NZL): 5′ (own goal), 6′ (own goal), 36′ (own goal)
• Ashley Hatch (USA): 51′
• Mallory Pugh (USA): 90+3′

Tournament Context:

• Previous result: Iceland 1-0 New Zealand (Brynjarsdottir 48 seconds)
• USWNT previous result: 0-0 vs Czech Republic

Looking Ahead

The victory set up the USWNT perfectly for their final tournament match against Iceland, with the Americans needing just a draw to secure the SheBelieves Cup title. The comprehensive performance against New Zealand demonstrated the team’s ability to bounce back from disappointing results and showed the clinical edge that had been missing in their opening match.

For New Zealand, the heavy defeat provided valuable lessons about the standards required at the highest level of international football, while also highlighting the importance of mental resilience when facing adversity.

Connection to Recent Form

The 5-0 victory represented a return to the kind of dominant performances that had characterized the USWNT’s recent encounters, including their comprehensive victories over Paraguay and their commanding display against Australia in Sydney.

The match also demonstrated the unpredictable nature of international football, where individual moments can dramatically alter the course of matches, as seen in their dramatic draw with Australia in Newcastle and the emotional milestones achieved in recent matches.