Captain Rose Lavelle scored twice as the United States overwhelmed New Zealand 5-0 in a friendly at Eden Park on Saturday and delivered another another masterclass six months out from the World Cup.
Emily Fox leads a lineup of US players during the international football friendly match against the Football Ferns at Eden Park. Photo: Photosport
Seattle midfielder Lavelle, who was instrumental in Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Football Ferns in Wellington, terrorised the home defence in a creative and goal-scoring sense, delivering a goal in each half.
Mallory Swanson - who scored twice in Wellington - Ashley Hatch and Taylor Kornieck, also found the back of the net as the world's top-ranked side again dominated an under-strength New Zealand, who couldn't muster a shot on target.
It completed a successful week for the Americans, who deliberately played their first-ever games in New Zealand in preparation for their tilt at a third-straight World Cup crown.
All three of their pool games at this year's global showpiece are in Auckland or Wellington.
The US side will then potentially return to Eden Park for a quarter-final and semi-final during the month-long tournament - co-hosted by Australia.
Lavelle, who scored in the 2019 World Cup final win over the Netherlands, wore the skipper's armband after coach Vlatko Andonovski made seven starting changes from the first game.
She described their tour as an "amazing test run".
"Another stepping stone and we're moving in the right direction, I think," she said.
New Zealand captain Ali Riley said one major positive was the crowd of 12,721, a record for a women's football international in her country.
She hoped that record will be broken again when they play the opening match of the tournament at Eden Park, against Norway on July 20.
- RNZ
