Alex Morgan scores five as United States destroy Thailand 13-0 in biggest ever World Cup win

Striker Alex Morgan scored five times as holders United States began their World Cup campaign with a record 13-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday.

Morgan opened the goal spree for the title favourites, who are in pursuit of a fourth world crown, with a header in the 12th minute and from then on there was no stopping them.

Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle found the net with a left-footed shot while midfielder Lindsey Horan gave them a 3-0 lead going into the interval.

Samantha Mewis opened the floodgates five minutes after the break as the U.S. made life miserable for the Thais by regularly finding the back of the net.

In total seven Americans scored during the match - Morgan (5), Lavelle (2), Mewis (2), Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd all finding their way on to the scoresheet in a performance that is bound to strike fear into all of those teams hoping to end the United States' reign as world champions.

"We really wanted to showcase ourselves and what we've been preparing for and working on and I think we did that," said Morgan.

"Every goal matters in this tournament and so that's what we were working on in this game. We got a lot of attacks and I think we were really clinical in the number of attacks that we did get.

"I am speechless. The ball just bounced my way today and I am looking forward to the next game.

"To see Rose Lavalle have the confidence to go at players, Sam Mewis taking on players and scoring from outside the box, they showed really well. I am really proud of them."

At the final whistle, Lloyd and Christen Press were seen consoling some of the Thailand players, with Morgan putting her arm around Miranda Nild, who was wiping away tears on the pitch. Nild and Morgan both played college football for the California Golden Bears.

Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian said: "They were disappointed of course, they intended to make an impression in this first match and they were disappointed. Yes, they are athletes and they will be resilient."

10:09PM

Why they played extra time

9:58PM

Alex Morgan post-match

"We wanted to showcase ourselves and what we've been working on. Every goal matters in this tournament and that's what we were working on."

9:56PM

Not a bad result

9:55PM

Alex Morgan for the Golden Boot?

9:54PM

"Sending a message"

Sorry pals, but there's not a message sent from this other than that USA players all fancied scoring a goal and tried hard to make that happen. Thailand were absolutely garbage.

9:53PM

FULL TIME

America beat Thailand. By 13 goals.

9:51PM

ANOTHER GOAL

Lloyd gets her goal and the USA players go nuts. They love it.

USA 13 (Lloyd 90+2) Thailand 0

Again it's from a goal kick. So, note to teams playing Thailand - goal kicks are a pressing trigger.

9:49PM

90 mins - USA 12 Thailand 0

I wonder how much extra time the ref is going to play. There have been nine goals so it should be 4.5... but the cruel referees have opted for three.

USA are desperately trying to get Carli Lloyd to score now. They're still going.

9:47PM

89 mins - USA 12 Thailand 0

If USA had any sense of decency they would be forcing the goalkeeper to try and dribble her way up the pitch to score.

9:45PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL

ffs it's 12, Clive

USA 12 (Morgan 87') Thailand 0

Alex Morgan scores her fifth goal of the game. Rivals for the Golden Boot must be absolutely raging that they don't get to play Thailand. This goal is brilliant by the way. A stunning bit of control in the air in the box, lifted over the defender's head and then slammed into the back of the net.

9:44PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!

Oh hi there. How are you? It's 11-0 now. You can go back to sleep.

USA 11 (Pugh 84') Thailand 0

The goalkeeper kicks a goal kick up the pitch and within four passes, the ball is in the back of the net thanks to the quick thinking and finishing of Pugh.

9:39PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

And that's 10. Alex Morgan scores again.

USA 10 (Morgan 81') Thailand 0

The director of this BBC viewing is evil and has cut to a shot of a crying Thai girl. Not on, BBC. Don't make me feel bad about this.

9:37PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!

It's nine! Rapinoe scores and is absolutely delighted.

USA 9 (Rapinoe 79') Thailand 0

Thailand make the grave error of trying to attack and leave fewer than 20 players in their own half as a result. USA race forward and with a four v one, Rapinoe is able to slam home at the back post.

9:37PM

78 mins - USA 8 Thailand 0

It can't be very fun being on the pitch as a Thailand player. Having featured in a few 8-0 defeats in my time I can confirm it's not a feeling you are keen to replicate the following Sunday.

9:33PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

That's eight!

USA 8 (Morgan 74') Thailand 0

And the best of them by a mile. Alex Morgan controls inside the box, turns and thumps a shot into near-top corner.

9:31PM

73 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

A free-kick is chipped to the back post and a looping header looks to be heading into the net before a Thai body gets in the way and blocks.

USA get away with a foul throw. Horrible scenes.

9:29PM

70 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

USA have a couple more shots on goal which don't really challenge the goalkeeper. Lloyd and Press are mad keen to get on the scoresheet, Morgan is still buzzing around too, but it feels like USA have dropped their level a bit.

9:26PM

67 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

Lloyd Cruyff turns her marker inside the area and goes for a curler at the far post but hits it too close to the goalkeeper, Morgan follows up and works a shot which the goalie saves with her knees and LLOYD FOLLOWS UP AT THE NEAR POST! She blasts it out for a throw.

9:23PM

64 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

Ole! Lloyd chases a ball to the corner and her first touch takes her past the right-back and into the area. Corner. Rapinoe takes, the goalkeeper spills then chases and boots the thing away.

9:20PM

62 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

22 shots on goal to 1 so far. Press has just made that 23 as she cuts onto her left foot and batters a shot towards goal that hits a defender and goes behind for a corner.

9:18PM

60 mins - USA 7 Thailand 0

I forgot to mention that after that goal Carli Lloyd and Christen Press came on as subs. Doesn't really seem fair.

9:14PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!

It's 7-0. SOMEBODY CALL THE COASTGUARD

USA 7 (Lavelle 56') Thailand 0

Lavelle gets her team's seventh goal and it's not even difficult. Again the ball is worked down the left, crossed in and a simply setup to a waiting forward ends with the ball in the back of the net. The Thailand goalkeeper was doing well earlier in this game but it looks like she's crumbled here.

9:13PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

Uuuuuuhhhhhh and that's 6-0. Oh dear.

USA 6 (Mewis 54') Thailand 0

The ball is wide left, crossed to the edge of the box and mis-hit shot forward is deflected to Mewis, who has an easy finish at the back post.

9:12PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!

Pathetic defending by Thailand.

USA 5 (Morgan 53') Thailand 0

The ball is launched into the area, flicked on, and USA have a two or three v one at the back post to allow Morgan a simple tap in.

9:11PM

53 mins - USA 4 Thailand 0

Lavelle goes for a header and lands badly, freefalling for about three feet and hitting the turf on her back. She's won a free-kick for it though.

9:09PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!

It's 4-0. And that's the 800th Women's World Cup goal!

USA 4 (Mewis 50') Thailand 0

Rapinoe twists and turns, passes to Mewis and Mewis has a punt. It comes off the chest or shoulder of a defender and the goalie has no chance.

9:06PM

48 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

USA are - wait for it - on the attack and passing the ball around Thailand's half. If I were Alex Morgan I'd be gunning it for my teammates to setup a hat-trick. She might get one anyway. USA look so much faster, stronger, taller and they're all over Thailand at the start of this half.

9:04PM

KICK OFF 2

Thailand start the second half. The comeback is on!

8:54PM

What on earth is VAR up to?

Everyone I've asked, everyone I've read on Twitter, and Alex Scott and Hope Solo all agree that both of the penalty shouts were definite penalties. The replays even show that they were. Is the VAR just trying to be nice to Thailand?

8:52PM

USA here on a mission

Thailand are dead lucky not to be 5-0 down - at least here. Hope Solo is currently laying into the Thai goalkeeper for her attempt at saving Lavelle's goal.

"She falls vertically but she has to dive horizontally and I want to tape her wrists because she wasn't strong enough."

8:49PM

HALF TIME

And that's it. Again, VAR hasn't given the decision the TV replays suggest... or explicitly show... it should be. USA should have two penalties in that half.

8:48PM

45 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

Heath puts the left-back on the floor with another bit of skill but again does a bit too much when in the box and rather than getting the cross low into the box, overplays it and loses out. USA have a free-kick about 30 yards out now, Rapinoe standing over it again.

Here she comes... and it's a short pass again! Really clever and Dunn's first touch is perfect, taking it on the turn and firing a shot at the near post but THE GOALKEEPER SAVES! USA have turned this into a pinball game. Shot, shot, block, block SAVE, shot, shot... and now a player has gone down in the box and it should be a penalty. The referee is checking with VAR!

8:44PM

44 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

Rapinoe fires a corner to the near post and win another corner. The goalkeeper is really short and you'd think USA would hit more high crosses towards her to take advantage.

Rapinoe hits another poor cross from wide left shortly after. She's been good at everything except delivery so far.

8:42PM

41 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

Oooooooohhhhhhhhh that is wonderful. A little drag back flick on the right and Heath (I think) has completely binned the left-back and is through to the box. Her cross doesn't set up anything this time but the skill was great. I'm all for that.

8:40PM

39 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

USA attack down the left, a low pass is fired into Morgan, who spins and sets herself up for a shot inside the area but is blocked. Rapinoe tries to show off a bit with a weird attempt on goal and the move ends.

Thailand attempt to counter and end up keeping the ball for a bit.

8:37PM

37 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

Thailand are making a sub. Boothduang off, Khueanpet (yes, this is a nightmare to liveblog without spelling errors) but I'm not sure how much of a difference it'll make.

8:35PM

34 mins - USA 3 Thailand 0

There's Morgan celebrating her first goal. Thailand still can't keep hold of the ball.

8:33PM

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!

And that's 3-0.

USA 3 (Horan 32') Thailand

The free-kick is sort of passed into the area and somehow ends up being thumped into the back of the net. Horan punts the loose, bouncing ball into the net, the goalkeeper has no chance.

8:32PM

31 mins - USA 2 Thailand 0

Heath is fouled right on the line of the penalty area as she tries to dribble into it and USA have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Rapinoe looks like she fancies it.

8:30PM

29 mins - USA 2 Thailand 0

Thailand are in the USA half again! At last. They keep the ball moving, work it wide, and Thongsombut shifts the ball onto her right foot and shoots from 35 yards! It bends in the air but lands in the goalkeeper's gloves. A shot on target!

8:28PM

27 mins - USA 2 Thailand 0

O'Hara tries to advance up the right wing but doesn't have the pace to get past her opponent and Thailand then win a free-kick. This is a chance to get the ball in the USA half! AND THEY'VE TOUCHED THE BALL IN THE USA HALF! And lost it. One touch, gone.

Apparently Germany beat Argentina 11-0 in their first game of a World Cup title defence, not sure we'll get there.

8:25PM

(NOT A) PENALTY!

It must be a penalty. The referee doesn't seem to have spotted that Mewis has been fouled - clearly - in the box, falling backwards while running forwards, her arm pulled before she can have a hit at goal. And somehow VAR says it's not a penalty either! Hmmmm.

8:23PM

23 mins - USA 2 Thailand 0

Aaaaaaand it should be 3-0. Morgan has just skied a shot from eight yards out as Dunn crossed into the six yard box and no Thai player dealt with the danger.

8:22PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!

And that's two. It's way too easy.

USA 2 (Lavelle 20') Thailand 0

The ball is chipped towards the striker, Morgan controls and plays it inside and Lavelle runs beyond, takes a couple of strides and hits a shot that the goalkeeper can't turn away. It slips beyond her into the net.

8:19PM

18 mins - USA 1 Thailand 0

Mewis muscles a couple of Thai players off the ball and turns to drive at goal. A shot from distance is shanked well wide.

8:17PM

16 mins - USA 1 Thailand 0

USA win a corner. I don't mean this to sound harsh but if Thailand are able to touch the ball in USA's half in this game they will have done very well. It's not that they're awful, just that USA are so much better.

8:13PM

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!

MORGAN SCORES! And this one will definitely count. Thailand could get absolutely battered here... it's really easy for USA.

USA 1 (Morgan 12') Thailand 0

Rapinoe makes the goal by dribbling down the left and cutting it to the edge of the box but the cross is dinked to the back post, hangs in the air and Morgan just has to put her head through it to score.

8:12PM

11 mins - USA 0 Thailand 0

Thailand are having to chase USA around like they're in a car park. USA moving the ball well, shifting it from side to side, but when they launch high balls into the box there's no direction on the pass and the Thai goalkeeper is plucking it out the air.

Another move down the right now, crossed into the area and MEWIS IS THERE! Her volley is over the bar.

8:09PM

8 mins - USA 0 Thailand 0

Still all USA. Heath tries a cross from wide right but slices it out of play.

8:07PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL

Ohhhhh it's offside. The ball is hooked from right to left, headed back across as the goalkeeper comes off her line and Morgan taps in to an empty net. The linesman has spotted that Morgan is juuuuuuust offside though and rules it out. VAR proves her decision to be correct.

8:06PM

5 mins - USA 0 Thailand 0

The goalkeeper has to be alert to a shot from distance and spills it despite the ball being struck at her. She smothers and Thailand survive. It's all USA in these opening minutes.

8:04PM

3 mins - USA 0 Thailand 0

USA, as we expected, are on the attack from the start. They've focused most of their play down the right wing and put a couple of crosses in but Thailand have cleared their lines. Heath tries a chip which I think might have been aimed to go over the goalkeeper but doesn't have enough power on it.

8:01PM

KICK OFF

Here we go! Thailand in a 4-4-2, USA look to have a back three.

7:57PM

USA much taller

As in... across the board. Defending corners could be a real problem here for Thailand.

7:56PM

National anthem time

Thailand have a few fans dotted around the very well attended stadium - is this the busiest of any game since France?

7:22PM

Both teams

I've finally managed to track down the Thailand starting lineup.

7:15PM

I... I believe... I believe that

Remember this chant? I'm really hoping we hear it in the crowd tonight.

6:59PM

USA starting lineup

6:58PM

Good evening!

It's time for the USA to step up and teach the world what SOCCER is all about. Standing in their way tonight is the mighty nation of Thailand... wait. Hang on. That can't be... *Googles* huh. There's no mistake here, Thailand are at a World Cup. AND HERE THEY COME!

In fact, Thailand are ranked 34th in Fifa's 'but can I really trust that?' list of nations.

That makes them better, in theory, than Nigeria and Argentina, who are both also in the tournament. Therefore Thailand might be quite good. I've not seen them play before and won't pretend otherwise but I know that the USA are slightly above decent (ranked world number one) and have some brilliant individual players.

Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd are just three of the players we can enjoy watching tonight- assuming all start - and all have previous experience of World Cups. The most likely situation we see unfold this evening is that this becomes a match very much like New Zealand 0 Holland 1, which was one team completely dominating possession, looking for ways to score and unable to do so. The only ambition New Zealand showed in the second half was to make the match finish as soon as possible and you'd think that if USA are on their game tonight, we might see something similar.

In context, New Zealand are ranked 19th in the world (just above Scotland). And if that doesn't do it for you, let me tell you the odds for this evening's game. USA are 1/66 to win, Thailand are 40/1. I'd say it's worth putting a pound on but actually it's not - the house always wins and USA are going to win.

Kick off is 8pm!