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No one expected Haiti to challenge the United States. In fact, it'd have been a surprise if the Americans didn't win by more than the five goals that they topped the Haitians by earlier in the week. And before a crowd of 35,753, the world champions delivered exactly what was expected, cruising to an 8-0 win.
The win marked the Americans' 100th consecutive home match without a loss and they hit the century mark in emphatic fashion. In addition to the scoreline, the U.S. out-shot Haiti 39-0 in a match that was never close.
It took all of 52 seconds for the U.S. to score as Kelley O-Hara's cross found Julie Johnston for the opening score. That was only a sign of what was to come.
Alex Morgan was taken down in the box after 16 minutes, drawing a penalty that Carli Lloyd converted. A minute later, Megan Rapinoe played Crystal Dunn in on goal and Dunn finished easily. Lloyd and Dunn then combined in the 22nd minute when Dunn flicked a cross onto Lloyd for the simple finish. Lloyd then made it a hat trick in the 39th minute and the U.S. took a 5-0 lead into halftime.
The most notable part of the game was Jill Ellis' decision to start Becky Sauerbrunn in the midfield. Many people have speculated that she would make a good defensive midfielder and she got a chance to show that. Of course, with the match so far out of hand, it wasn't really a test, but in playing her there, we did see that it is something Ellis has considered.
The second half was more of the same. Amy Rodriguez got on the scoreboard in the 51st minute with a 20-yard strike. It took until five minutes from time for the next goal as O'Hara's cross was knocked on by Whitney Engen for Morgan to finish. That was a relief for the striker, who struggled to finish yet again, but she did finally get on the board. Finally, Heather O'Reilly scored to complete the shellacking.
Haiti was never going to give the U.S. a challenge and they didn't, but the Americans will still be happy to pick up a win. Next up for the U.S. will be friendlies against Brazil on October 21 and 25 in what should be a much stiffer challenge for the Americans.