SOCCER : U.S. Women’s 9-0 Victory Over Mexico a Good Omen

The first country the U.S. women’s national soccer team defeated on the road to its world championship victory in China in 1991 was Mexico, which was trounced, 12-0.

So far, the omens for repeating as champions in 1995 look good.

On Saturday evening, the Americans defeated Mexico again, this time by a 9-0 score, in their first qualifying match for second FIFA Women’s World Championship in Sweden next June.

The United States got two goals apiece from Christine Lilly and Michelle Akers-Stahl, while five other players also found the net at Claude Robillard Stadium in Montreal.

Lilly scored the opening goal with a header in the sixth minute off a corner kick from Carin Gabarra and Gabarra finished off the rout herself in the 90th minute as the Mexicans were overwhelmed.

“We played a very solid match,” said U.S. assistant coach Tony DiCicco, who takes over as coach from Anson Dorrance after this CONCACAF regional qualifying tournament. “Mexico will have its day in this tournament. This is a better team than we faced in 1991.”

The United States led, 4-0, at the half and, after the Americans’ sixth goal, Mexico switched goalkeepers, to little avail.

The Mexicans were outshot, 27-2, with Tisha Venturini, Mia Hamm, Tiffany Roberts and Jennifer Lalor also scoring.

In the opening game of the five-nation qualifying tournament, Canada defeated Jamaica, 7-0, with Charmaine Hooper, the sister of Canadian national team player Lyndon Hooper, scoring a hat trick.

The United States’ next match is on Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago.