U.S. women put 6 past Costa Rica, win CONCACAF Women's Championship

The United States women's national team ended their CONCACAF Women's Championship on a high with a 6-0 win over Costa Rica to win the tournament's trophy.

Although the U.S. had already accomplished its primary goal of qualifying for the 2015 Women's World Cup with a 3-0 win over Mexico on Friday, Jill Ellis' team approached Sunday's match-up as the final it was. Ellis rotated some of her starting lineup—most notably slotting Becky Sauerbrunn into the defense and giving Morgan Brian her first start of the tournament—but otherwise the U.S. fielded much the same eleven that faced Mexico.

Abby Wambach made the start up top, and within four minutes she had put the U.S. up 1-0. A poor Costa Rica clearance rolled to Brian, whose cross Wambach simply had to redirect into the goal from close range.

While it might be tough to tell from the scoreline, Costa Rica put up a stronger fight than the U.S. faced all tournament. The Ticas, who will head to their first Women's World Cup next year, struggled to hold onto possession but still managed to test the U.S. with probing balls forward and runs behind the U.S. backline.

In the 18th minute, it was Lloyd's turn to redirect a header into the net, latching onto a Wambach header off a corner kick to make it 2-0. The goal was Lloyd's fifth of the tournament and just the start of a chemistry with Wambach that continued throughout the game. Lloyd and Wambach both saw chances in the rest of the first half, with Wambach grabbing her second goal on 35 minutes. Sharp dribbling and the cross from Lloyd found Wambach at the far post, and Wambach did what she does best—she headed it home.

Wambach bagged her hat trick in the 41st minute, again combining with Lloyd. In tight space in the box, Lloyd turned and hit a no-look cross where she knew Wambach would be, and Wambach was there for the header and 3-0.

In the second half, Costa Rica had more trouble finding room to attack, and in the end they wouldn't get on the scoreboard. The U.S. found the back of the net twice more, though—including through Wambach again on 72 minutes. A perfect through-ball from substitute Sydney Leroux found the forward, who one-timed it over goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz.

Just a minute later, Leroux finally scored her first goal of the tournament after coming frustratingly close on multiple occasions. Fellow second-half sub Tobin Heath's cross found a rising Leroux in the middle of the box, and Leroux made no mistake with the header for 6-0.

The victory marks the U.S.' seventh time winning the CONCACAF Women's Championship. Elsewhere in the tournament today, Mexico took Trinidad and Tobago into extra time for a 4-2 win, clinching their spot in Canada next year. Trinidad and Tobago will face Ecuador in a playoff for another spot. The U.S. women return to the field in December for a friendly tournament in Brazil.