EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The U.S. women’s national soccer team completed its interrupted run-up to the delayed Tokyo Olympics with a timely and commanding performance Monday that, despite light resistance, maintained the Americans’ bright prospects of a fifth gold medal.
Two days before flying to Japan, the reigning world champions welcomed back two starters from injury and wasted no time in burying Mexico, 4-0, for their 44th consecutive match without defeat, seven short of the program record.
Never mind the opponent. Mexico was nothing more than traffic cones in U.S. express lanes, and the outcome was hardly in question before the opening whistle and not at all after a few minutes.