U.S. women put aside WPS concerns with another big win

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Nov 2, 2010

[WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFYING] The U.S. women's national team put aside uncertainty about the future of several Women's Professional Soccer teams to defeat Costa Rica, 4-0, to win Group A at Concacaf Women's World Cup qualifying tournament with its third straight shutout on Monday night in Cancun, Mexico.

Abby Wambach scored in her third straight game to give her six goals in the tournament.

Lauren Cheney, Yael Averbuch and Alex Morgan also scored for the Americans, who will meet the Group B runner-up, either Mexico or Canada, Friday with a berth at Germany '11 on the line.

Ali Krieger at right back, Kristine Lilly at left midfield and Cheney up front all got their first starts of the tournament in the win over Costa Rica.

Wambach's Washington Freedom and the 2010 WPS champion FC Gold Pride are reportedly on the verge of folding if new investors are not found quickly.

Three U.S. starters -- Nicole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler and Shannon Boxx -- played for FC Gold Pride.

Nov. 1 in Cancun
USA 4 Costa Rica 0. Goals: Wambach (pen.) 32, Cheney 68, Averbuch 73, Morgan 81
USA -- Barnhart, Krieger, LePeilbet, Rampone, Buehler, Averbuch, Boxx (O’Reilly, 75), Lloyd (Lindsey, 37), Lilly, Cheney, Wambach (Morgan, 62)
Costa Rica -- Diaz (Tapia, 72), Acosta, Quiros, C.Sanchez, Flores, I.Rodriguez, Cruz, Alvardo, L.Sanchez, Malvassi (Barrantes, 79), A.Venegas (C.Venegas, 59)
Referee: Lucila Venegas (Mexico).
Att.: 502.