Leroux ignores boos while enhancing U. S. rout
Surrey athlete nets five goals for Americans, while teammate Abby Wambach establishes new scoring record
For 46 minutes, Sydney Leroux sat idle, clad in a track suit as she watched her American mates dominate Guatemala on Sunday.
Then the native of Surrey, who has dual citizenship and has elected to play for the United States team at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver, was called into action at the beginning of the second half.
Replacing Abby Wambach — who earlier in the match set a new scoring record for the final round of CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying with her 12th goal, surpassing Burnaby’s Christine Sinclair — Leroux wasted little time in announcing her presence in the tournament.
A polarizing figure for her decision to play for the U. S. and not Canada, Leroux scored three goals in the span of just over nine minutes, then added two more late in the half as the American side defeated Guatemala 13- 0.
“It’s pretty sweet. I know there are some people who don’t respect my decision, there are some that do and not everyone’s going to like you,” said Leroux.
“I’m happy. I’m happy where I am, I’m happy to wear this jersey ... I heard some people were booing me, but after the fourth goal, they stopped.”
Her fifth equalled teammate Amy Rodriguez’s record for most goals in a CONCACAF Olympic qualifying final round game. It was an impressive feat, in front of a large contingent of friends and family.
“It is so important to play in front of my mom and my family and my friends,” said Leroux.
“I grew up here and to have them come and support me is pretty special.”
The book on Leroux coming into the tournament is that she’s a pure goal scorer.
Her first was a fine example, as she blasted home a shot from inside the penalty area less than three minutes into the second half.
She then put home a header on a picture- perfect cross from Rodriguez. Her fourth goal in the 70th minute was almost a carbon copy, however it was Kelley O’hara with the feed.
Leroux became the feel- good story in a match that was over as quickly as it started.
The Americans went ahead 1- 0 on a goal from Wambach in the 12th minute — a neat deflection with her left foot that chipped the ball past Guatemalan goalkeeper Maricruz Lemus.
The onslaught had begun, and the Americans were relentless.
Wambach scored her second of the night, and the goal that put her past Sinclair for the most scored in the final round of CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, two minutes later on a perfect header courtesy of a free kick.
The Americans opened up a 6- 0 lead on goals from Lauren Cheney, Rodriguez, Carli Lloyd and Lori Lindsey, before adding seven more in the second half. But the easy ride the American powerhouse has enjoyed to this point is about to get a jolt.
They’ll take on an undefeated Mexican squad Tuesday to see which of the two nations enters Friday’s semifinals as the firstplace team out of Group B.
Even more intriguing is that Mexico upset the U. S. 2- 1 in the semifinal of the 2010 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament.