U.S. Women Rout Trinidad, 11-0

HERSHEY, Pa. — April Heinrichs wasn’t kidding when she said the U.S. women would show no mercy in the Gold Cup.

In what amounted to little more than a stroll through Hersheypark on Friday night, the world champions routed overmatched Trinidad and Tobago, 11-0, as Cindy Parlow scored three goals. The U.S. coach promised her team would not back down, and it was relentless in the opener of the eight-nation tournament.

Two of the younger, less-heralded World Cup veterans were dominant early in the one-sided game in which the Americans possessed the ball 90% of the time. Lorrie Fair, who has stepped in for injured Michelle Akers at center midfield, scored twice in a minute. Christie Pearce, in for captain Carla Overbeck at outside halfback, had two beautiful assists in the first half.

Mia Hamm, who missed half a dozen wonderful chances in the first half, drilled home a short shot off a scramble in the 48th minute. She got another in the 68th.

Shannon MacMillan put a penalty shot over the crossbar moments after Hamm’s first score, but that didn’t stem the onslaught. Parlow got her second of the night with a header off a precise corner kick by Tiffeny Milbrett in the 51st.

Hamm then made a perfect feed to MacMillan for a tap-in in the 62nd. Eleven minutes later, Parlow headed in a long cross from Brandi Chastain to make it 9-0.

Sara Whalen scored the final two goals for the United States.

A crowd of 10,483 first began cheering the U.S. women when they entered the stadium runway midway through the opening game between Brazil and Costa Rica, which Brazil won, 8-0. The U.S. plays Costa Rica on Sunday at Louisville, Ky.