United Statesâ forward Sydney Leroux, right, dives the ball past Mexico's goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago to score the opening goal during the first half of their friendly soccer match, Sunday, May 17, 2015, at StubHub Center? in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
While Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago seemed to up to the challenge in the first half against the United States women's soccer team on Sunday night, it wasn't enough to stop the red, white and blue’s offensive onslaught.
Santiago, who at 16 became the youngest goalkeeper to player in the 2011 Women's World Cup, fended off two tremendous attempts by Megan Rapinoe in the 14th minute, but the second half was a different story once the U.S. got into their groove.
Sydney Leroux, making her first start of the year for the national squad, scored twice in a 5-1 victory. The forward started off 2015 with an injury to her right foot and had been working her way back into peak form.
"Coming out there and scoring those goals, it made me miss scoring a lot," she said. "You don't realize it until it happens."
Leroux scored from a seemingly impossible angle in the 28th minute for her first goal in 14 matches to put the United States up 1-0. It was her 34th career international goal.
"She's gotten herself fit," coach Jill Ellis said about Leroux. "I said coming into this camp, I just sense the focus in her. She's been training really well, deserved the start and she did great."
Abby Wambach also scored twice in the second send-off match for the U.S. team in advance of the Cup next month in Canada.
Wambach, who came in as a substitute to start the second half, scored on a penalty kick in the 58th minute and added a header in the 72nd minute to bring her career total to 182 goals. She has scored 24 goals against Mexico, the most has against any nation.
Lori Chalupny added a goal for the United States early in the second half.
Ariana Calderón scored on a header for Mexico late in the first half, snapping Hope Solo's shutout streak at five matches. It was the first goal the U.S. conceded to Mexico since November 2010, when Las Tri surprised the Americans with a 2-1 victory in World Cup qualifying.
The Americans were playing without forward Alex Morgan, who has a bone bruise in her left knee. Morgan also may miss the final send-off match against South Korea at Red Bull Stadium in New Jersey on May 30.
"She's doing well. We still have not had her back in full training, but she's feeling better and we're going to keep it precautionary and be conservative with her through the end of this camp and potentially through the next camp as well," Ellis said.
Nayeli Rangel got a shot off when Solo was occupied in the 36th minute, but it went slightly wide of the far post. Las Tri evened it just before the half on Calderón's header.
Chalupny entered the game to start the second half and scored on her first touch, with a feed from Wambach in the 46th minute, to put the Americans up 2-1.
After Wambach took advantage of the penalty kick when Arianna Romero was called for a handball, Leroux added her second on a fast break in the 61st minute. Wambach's header closed out scoring.
"Obviously I'm happy to get on the field and get the minutes any way I can, but more than that I'm happy to contribute and score goals," Wambach said.
Earlier this week, both teams played closed-door matches against Canada, which also was training in Southern California.
Canada beat Mexico 1-0 on Thursday. A day earlier, Canada and the United States played to a 1-1 draw. Because the matches were closed, they do not count as international friendlies.
It is the policy of US Soccer not to comment on such matches, but Ellis said she was pleased with her team's performance.
"We got everybody in the game, so it was good to see our depth," Ellis said, ticking off what she saw. "Played it on turf. I thought at times our speed of play was very, very good. We created a lot of opportunities. It was just really good for us to play such a good opponent this close to the World Cup."
The United States was officially coming off a 3-0 victory over Ireland last Sunday in the first of a three-match send-off series before the World Cup. Wambach scored twice and defender Julie Johnston added a goal.
Mexico coach Leo Cuellar told the Associated Press that he will likely wait to announce his World Cup roster until closer to the May 25 deadline, because of injuries that have impacted his squad.
Mexico forward Tanya Samarzich watched the match from the sidelines on crutches with her right foot in a boot. Samarzich, who played for USC, was apparently injured in one of Mexico's closed-door matches.
"Obviously when the U.S. has so many opportunities, something is not right," Cuellar said after Sunday's match. "I think we needed to step on the field stronger mentally in order to execute what we've been practicing. It's very difficult to defend all the time against the U.S. if you don't keep possession of the ball."
The United States, ranked No. 2 in the world, opens the World Cup on June 8 with a match against Australia in Winnipeg, Manitoba, while No. 25 Mexico opens with Colombia on June 9 in Moncton, New Brunswick.
Attendance for Sunday's match was announced at 27,000, a sellout and the largest crowd for a U.S. women's match at StubHub Center.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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