SheBelieves Cup: Meikayla Moore scores hat-trick of first-half own goals as USA thrash New Zealand
Peter Hanson
February 20, 2022 22:32 MYT
February 20, 2022 22:32 MYT
It's not often scoring a 'perfect' hat-trick would be considered a bad thing, but it certainly was for New Zealand women's international Meikayla Moore against the United States on Sunday.
That's because the luckless Liverpool defender completed the usually impressive feat by scoring three own goals in the SheBelieves Cup fixture in Los Angeles.
Moore's nightmare outing began when she inadvertently diverted home Sophia Smith's left-wing cross with her right foot in the fifth minute.
Just a minute later and it was Sofia Huerta's delivery from the right that caused panic and eventually went in via Moore's head.
And after 36 minutes, Moore directed Margaret Purce's low cross from the right in with her left foot to compound a truly miserable opening period.
.@sophsssmith making things happen early for the opener!!! ??#SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/CpAvjdhqU1 — U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
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.@schuerta + @100Purcent wreak havoc to double the lead! #SheBelievesCup x @Visa pic.twitter.com/pR3mLaLzg4 — U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
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name's Purce, because @100Purcent is always in her bag pic.twitter.com/GAss2w9txG — U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 20, 2022
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Head coach Jitka Klimkova would end Moore's misery by replacing her with Rebekah Stott. The United States went on to win the game 5-0 with Ashley Hatch and Mallory Pugh also getting on the scoresheet.
The USA consequently went top with four points, with New Zealand bottom having lost twice. Iceland were aiming to reclaim top spot and make it two wins from two against the Czech Republic later on Sunday.