Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan scores fastest goal in USWNT history

Yes, the United States women’s national team had gotten ensnared in a rapidly decaying collective bargaining agreement standoff with U.S. Soccer on the eve of Olympic qualifying, which will likely result in an acrimonious court case, but it took Alex Morgan just a few breaths to convert any frustration into goals. Morgan’s first goal was the fastest in North American Olympic qualifying history, and the team said it is believed to be the fastest in USA history.

In the second half, Morgan got her second goal of the game in the 62nd minute before Christen Press scored after what might be the most attractive first touch you’ll ever see. The U.S. defeated Costa Rica 5-0.

In Wednesday’s other Group A opener at Toyota Stadium, Maribel Dominguez scored a hat trick as Mexico routed Puerto Rico 6-0.

The match was the first in the USWNT’s quest to qualify for a sixth straight Olympics and win the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the fourth straight time. The play started off the kickoff when Lindsey Horan took a short pass and launched a long ball forward to Carli Lloyd, who flicked a header into the path of Morgan at the top of the box. The 2015 CONCACAF Women’s Player of the year headed it for an onrushing Morgan to fire a 12-yard volley into the lower right corner past goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz.

The goal surpassed the previous record of 35 seconds set by former USA forward Abby Wambach in 2012 against the Dominican Republic.

Alex Morgan scored the game’s first goal just 12 seconds in. The 26-year-old forward scored once during the USWNT’s march to a World Cup title last year, as she was brought along slowly while recovering from a knee injury.

The U.S. team will face Mexico on Saturday and close group play against Puerto Rico on Monday night. She almost scored again in the 59th minute on a point-blank header right at Diaz.

The two sides who book their place in the final of the CONCACAF will earn a berth at Rio 2016.

Costa Rica’s private transportation services AVANTI Costa Rica.