Throwback Thursday: Crystal Dunn scores first international goal for USWNT

The United States Women’s National Team entered a friendly match against Haiti on September 17, 2015 at Ford Field in Detroit in the middle of their Victory Tour after winning the 2015 Women’s World Cup. On that day, Crystal Dunn, the only player on the roster that was not on the World Cup team, earned the start and showed immediately that she could be dangerous on the attack.

The 2015 NWSL Golden Ball winner with 15 goals, she also proved she can set up goals as well. In the 6th minute, Dunn whipped a cross into the box, where Carli Lloyd was able to head the ball in over a defender for the match’s first goal. Later on in the half, Dunn was the distributor once again, working a give-and-go with Tobin Heath down the right side of the box before sending in another cross. This time, Christen Press was able to hit the ball into the net in the 33rd minute for a 2-0 lead.

Carli Lloyd added 2 more goals, one in the 37th minute and another in the 69th minute, to make it 4-0 USWNT. That score held until 2nd half stoppage time, where Dunn was still pressing to get into the scoring column. Finally, in minute 90+3, Heather O’Reilly sent a cross into the box, where Dunn was waiting to score ahead of Abby Wambach. Dunn arrived first and rose high to head the ball home.

It was Crystal Dunn’s first international goal and it capped off a ridiculous performance for the budding star. Dunn has since moved from striker to midfielder and now to wingback for the USWNT, and she is one of the bright stars for the team as they seek to defend their 2015 title this summer. It was only just a few years ago that Dunn was making her mark in the scoring column for the first time for America’s best soccer team.