In women’s soccer, the United States showed its strength with a 5-0 win over New Zealand.

In another friendly in Wellington six months before New Zealand and Australia host the Women’s World Cup, the defending champions beat New Zealand 4-0.

Seattle midfielder Lavelle, a key player in Saturday’s win, was a terror for the home defense at Eden Park.

Mallory Swanson, Ashley Hatch and Taylor Korniak scored the remaining goals.

Meanwhile the New Zealand team failed to score a single shot.

It was a successful week for the Americans, who played in New Zealand for the first time, as they returned home in search of a third straight trophy.

All World Cup group matches for the Americans will be played in either Auckland or Wellington.

They will also play their quarter-final and semi-final matches at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Lavelle, who scored in the 2019 World Cup final win over the Netherlands, called the tour an “incredible test”.

“It’s another step forward and we’re moving in the right direction, I think,” he declared.

The Australia-New Zealand World Cup starts on July 20.

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