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Games on February 13, 2016
Women's Olympic Qualifying
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FRISCO, Texas -- Despite playing for a FIFA Women's World Cup champion, United States striker Alex Morgan still endured a frustrating 2015.
She struggled with injuries and took time finding her form.
On Wednesday night, the 26-year-old served notice that she was back -- in the most spectacular way. Morgan scored twice, including a record-breaking goal only 12 seconds into a 5-0 Group A win over Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship (CWOQ) at Toyota Stadium.
"I think 2016 has just started off right,” said Morgan, who has scored 59 international goals in 101 games. “I feel really good with where I'm at. My first game I had my 100th cap and now first game of the CONCACAF tournament. We came out ready to go. I had a couple of goals, s it helps my confidence definitely.”
Morgan's first goal came off the opening kickoff and was a testament to teamwork -- six players touched the ball -- as she tallied the quickest score in competition's history, volleying in a Carli Lloyd header.
Though USA head coach Jill Ellis said it was a set play, Morgan commented that things don’t necessarily always go as planned…except, on this occasion, they did.
"It always starts off right. Then along the way, something goes wrong," the 26-year-old forward said. “But this time nothing went wrong. It was executed perfectly. Just a great way to start the tournament."
The Ticas never recovered, allowing three goals in the opening 15 minutes.
"The goal didn't just disrupt our defense, it disrupted our whole team," said Costa Rica head coach Amelia Valverde.
With the retirement all-time international goal-scorer Abby Wambach, Morgan has a new partner in Lloyd, the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year.
"It took a couple of months to get used to the partnership because me and Abby were the partnership up top for such a long period of time," Morgan expressed. "I think the transition is finally over. We connected really well. We anticipated each other a lot better than we had before."
Rather than dwelling on the result, Valverde has already turned her sights on Puerto Rico -- which fell 6-0 to Mexico -- in the second group match..
"Now we just want to focus on Saturday," the 29-year-old asserted.
Champions League
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