WATCH: Highlights from today's 8-0 win against Haiti in #Birmingham. Next up on the #VictoryTour: Seattle & Orlando.
https://t.co/xH07we0NAn
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) September 21, 2015
Carli Lloyd’s second hat trick in four days powered the United States to another easy victory over Haiti on Sunday. The U.S. won, 8-0 in front of 35,753 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.
With the victory, the U.S. is unbeaten in 100 straight home matches dating back to 2004 (88-0-12).
Lloyd completed her hat trick in 39 minutes — 23 minutes longer than it took her to complete her hat trick against Japan in the World Cup final on July 5 — before exiting the match at halftime. Lloyd scored a hat trick on Thursday against Haiti in a 5-0 victory in Detroit.
Haiti replaced Australia in the pair of U.S. World Cup victory tour matches after the Matildas pulled out of the matches amidst a player strike as labor negotiations with Football Federation Australia stalled.
[MORE: Haiti using games against U.S. as learning experience]
On Sunday, the United States needed only 52 seconds to open the scoring. Haiti failed to properly defend a short corner kick, allowing Kelley O’Hara to dribble in from the corner and send a low cross to Julie Johnston, who redirected the ball into the net. All five of Johnston’s career senior international goals have come on set pieces and in this calendar year.
Lloyd doubled the lead in the 16th minute from the penalty spot after Alex Morgan drew the penalty, and Crystal Dunn added her second goal in as many games — and of her international career — less than one minute later. Dunn is the only player on the victory tour roster who was not on the U.S. World Cup roster after leading the NWSL with 15 goals this season.
U.S. coach Jill Ellis used the match to experiment with to some degree, most notably in the form of defensive stalwart Becky Sauerbrunn making her first career start in the midfield. Sauerbrunn played in the defensive midfield role which was occupied on Thursday by Tobin Heath, who missed Sunday’s match with an ankle injury.
Alex Morgan scored in the 85th minute, heading in a flick-on from Whitney Engen.
The USA improved to 6-0-0 all-time against Haiti with 42 goals scored and none conceded.
The U.S. continues its World Cup victory tour with a pair of matches against Brazil on Oct. 21 in Seattle and on Oct. 25 in Orlando, Fla.
