U.S. Soccer Team Breaks Loose Against Cayman Islands

After experimenting with personnel and style of play, the U.S. national soccer team finally figured out a way to pump up its offense.

Schedule the Cayman Islands.

The United States had managed only nine goals in 11 international games before gaining an 8-1 victory Sunday afternoon before 3,612 at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo. It was the most goals ever scored by the United States (9-12-11) in international competition. The previous record was set in a 7-2 victory over Haiti in 1959.

“The last time I played in an 8-1 game was with my club team, the Huntington Beach Untouchables,” said Joe-Max Moore, who scored two goals and created another by hopping over a crossing pass from Cobi Jones that ended up on the foot of Dominic Kinnear, then in the Cayman goal.

That made it 1-0. Moore’s first goal, off a crossing header by Jones, put the U.S. ahead, 2-0, in the 19th minute and was worthy of a Moore backflip and handspring. By the time he headed in goal No. 8, however, there was little left to celebrate.

By the end of the half, it was 4-0. The only players getting less exercise than U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel were the Cayman forwards.

Soccer Notes

Forward Dante Washington, who played 133 minutes during the last three international games and created some scoring opportunities but had not scored, has been released from the national team. . . . The U.S. team has added a game against Konsvinger, a first-division team in Norway, on Dec. 11 at Cal State Fullerton.