Crystal Dunn scores twice to lead US to 5-1 win over Russia

HOUSTON – Crystal Dunn had two goals for the second straight game, helping the U.S. women’s national team cruise to a 5-1 win over Russia in an international friendly Sunday.

Dunn scored in the 38th minute off a pass from Meghan Klingenberg before opening the second half with her fourth goal in the two Russian friendlies off a pass from Mallory Pugh.

Carli Lloyd and Rose Lavelle also scored in the United States’ dominant performance. The Americans had a 21-2 advantage in shots and attempted 14 corner kicks to one by Russia.

Lloyd, who plays in Houston for the NWSL’s Dash, opened the scoring in the 20th minute with her 97th career national team goal, converting a penalty kick inside the near post. Dunn set up the PK after being taken down in the box going for a loose ball.

Lavelle followed with her first career national team goal in the 37th minute, taking a cross-field forward pass from Pugh on the far side for a short breakaway and scoring inside the near post. Pugh’s two assists were her first multi-assist game as a member of the women’s national team.

The U.S., ranked second in the world behind Germany and playing its last friendly until traveling to Sweden on June 8, also beat Russia 4-0 on Thursday at the home of MLS’ FC Dallas in suburban Dallas.

Russia cut the lead to 3-1 with a Nadesha Karpova penalty kick in the 42nd minute, but the Americans regained the three-goal advantage when Lloyd’s header off Lavelle’s corner kick went off Ksenia Kovalenko’s leg for an own goal.