REIMS: Holders United States began their trophy defence by recording the biggest win in Women’s World Cup history as Alex Morgan scored five goals in a 13-0 demolition of hapless Thailand on Tuesday.

The USA, who won the World Cup for a third time in Canada four years ago, scored 10 in the second half in Reims as they bettered Germany’s 11-0 win over Argentina in 2007 and shattered their own previous tournament best of 7-0.

Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis netted twice each while Lindsey Horan, skipper Megan Rapinoe and substitutes Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also got on the scoresheet in an embarrassingly one-sided Group ‘F’ encounter watched by more than 18,000 at the Stade Auguste-Delaune.

Group rivals Sweden, who ousted the USA in the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics three years ago, started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Chile in Rennes earlier in the day, but only after a hold-up because of torrential rain.

Rain had been falling for around a quarter of an hour when, with conditions deteriorating and a threat of thunderstorms, Mexican referee Lucila Venegas decided to take the players off in the 72nd minute with the score 0-0.

Play eventually resumed following a break of around 40 minutes, and late goals from Kosovare Asllani and substitute Madelen Janogy gave Sweden, the 2003 runners-up, the points.

European champions the Netherlands also got off to a winning start, but left it very late to beat New Zealand in Le Havre.

Jill Roord came off the bench and headed home from close range in added time to give the Dutch a 1-0 victory, putting them level with Canada atop Group ‘E’.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2019