Cal Sports Report

Alex Morgan Plays and Scores in Opening U.S. Gold Cup Match

Former Cal star Morgan was added to the roster shortly before the shutout victory over the Dominican Republic

Jake Curtis

Alex Morgan Plays and Scores in Opening U.S. Gold Cup Match
Alex Morgan Plays and Scores in Opening U.S. Gold Cup Match /

Former Cal star Alex Morgan was a game-day addition to the U.S. Women's National Team roster, and she played and scored a goal in the 5-0 victory over the Dominican Republic in the Americans' opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup Tuesday night in Carson, Calif.

Two weeks ago, Morgan was notably absent from the U.S. roster announced by Interim head coach Twila Kilgore. It suggested the 34-year-old Morgan, whose 122 international goals are the most by any active American woman and the fifth-most in U.S. women's soccer history, might not be a member of the U.S. squad for the Paris Olympic soccer competition that begins July 24, three weeks after Morgan's 35th birthday.

ESPN soccer commentator Herculez Gomez said Morgan's exclusion from the team was not a snub, but rather a logical omission based on her unproductive play in recent months.

Morgan played in all four of the United States' World Cup games last summer and failed to score a goal as the Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 by Sweden on penalty kicks.

Still, it was newsworthy that Morgan was left off the U.S. squad for the Gold Cup, the Americans' first tournament since the World Cup.  Kilgore said when the roster announcement was made that no player was "out of the mix" for the Summer Olympics squad, but it seemed to be an omen.

But then, Mia Fishel suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during Monday's practice, and on Tuesday morning, just hours before the opening group stage match against the Dominican Republic, Morgan was added to the roster as her replacement.

"As we start this tournament, we're fortunate to be able to add a player like Alex to the roster," Kilgore said, according to ESPN News Services. "Her accomplishments speak for themselves; she's been training extremely hard with the [NWSL's San Diego] Wave in preseason, and I know she'll be more than ready to contribute in this tournament."

Rules required Morgan to wear Fishel's No. 7 jersey instead of her traditional No. 13, but she was on the squad.

Morgan did not start Tuesday's match, but she was one of several veterans who entered the game in the second half with the U.S. safely ahead 3-0.

Morgan came on in the 67th minute and committed two fouls and missed wide on a shot on goal in the 80th minute.

The Americans were awarded a penalty in the 86th minute, but it was Jenna Nighswonger, not Morgan, who took and converted the penalty kick for a 4-0 lead.

However, the U.S. was awarded another penalty in stoppage time, and Morgan took the penalty kick this time and converted it with her favored left foot for a 5-0 lead two minutes into stoppage.

Morgan attempted another shot just a few seconds before the final whistle, but her right-footed shot was stopped by the goalie.

Morgan played in this game when the outcome had already been decided, and It remains uncertain whether Morgan will receive any playing time when the result of a match in this event is still undetermined.

An indication of the Americans' youth movement is that 18-year-old Olivia Moultrie was named the woman of the match.

The U.S. will face Argentina on Friday before playing its final group-stage match on Monday against Mexico.

Cover photo of Alex Morgan's penalty kick by Kiyoshi Mio, USA TODAY Sports

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Jake Curtis
JAKE CURTIS

Jake Curtis worked in the San Francisco Chronicle sports department for 27 years, covering virtually every sport, including numerous Final Fours, several college football national championship games, an NBA Finals, world championship boxing matches and a World Cup. He was a Cal beat writer for many of those years, and won awards for his feature stories.

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