Alex Morgan scored a first-half brace and Margaret Purce added a late goal as the United States women’s national team beat Haiti 3-0 in group stage action at the CONCACAF W Championship.
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Morgan opened scoring for the U.S. in the 16th minute with a heel flick off a pass from Mallory Pugh that got past Haiti goalkeeper Lara Larco. Morgan’s second goal came on a header in the 23rd minute.
Monday’s win at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, Mexico, saw the USWNT overcome defensive struggles against the upstart Haitians and secure the first match at the inaugural tournament among the top sides of North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Roselord Borgella could have given Haiti a goal from the penalty spot after Morgan’s two early goals, but she missed and then was later given a yellow card for a foul before the half.
The United States appeared to score on an own goal in the 78th, but Megan Rapinoe was ruled offside. Purce scored her fourth international goal in the 84th.
Eight teams are split into two groups for the W Championship. The top two finishers in each group earn berths for the 2023 Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. The third place finishers in each group advance to a 10-team intercontinental playoff.
The winner of the W Championship also earns a spot in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Haiti has never qualified for a World Cup or an Olympics. In addition to the United States and Haiti, the group includes Jamaica and Mexico.
Canada, Costa Rica, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago are in the other group.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
