In a fitting finale to the Road to Sweden tour, the U.S. women’s national team rolled by Canada 9-1 May 19 before 6,145 fans at Franklin Field in Dallas. It was the second-largest crowd to watch the U.S. women in the United States, missing the record — set last summer against Norway in Worcester, Mass. — by just 367.

The U.S. finished 6-0-0 on the tour, outscoring Finland, Brazil and Canada 24-2. The last game for the U.S. before going to the World Cup was against Canada May 22 in Edmonton. The U.S. rested six starters but still won 2-1.

The performance in Dallas, said U.S. coach Tony DiCicco, showed that his team was getting ready to peak as it prepared to go to Sweden to defend its World Championship.

“We are getting close,” he said. “The players are getting a little edgy. We are getting ready to peak … Canada should not hold its head down. We played very well. Every game in this Road to Sweden tour, we’ve picked it up a level. But I’m not saying we don’t have another level to go up.”

In the first game, four different U.S. starters — Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Carin Gabarra and Kristine Lilly — scored twice, and Tiffeny Milbrett also scored.

The Canadians were trailing 3-1 in the first half when Michelle Ring tripped Michelle Akers from behind in the 18-yard box in the last minute of the first half, setting up Akers’ second penalty kick of the half. It also earned Ring a red card from referee Kevin Terry. With the one-player advantage, the U.S. padded its 4-1 halftime lead with five more goals in the second stanza.

Akers, who took herself out of the game after the first half, said the team is definitely peaking.

“I was not on top of things physically and I felt it was better for the team that I step out in the second half,” Akers said.

by Soccer America correspondent Phil Stephens

International Friendlies

May 19 in Dallas

United States 9, Canada 1. Goals: Hamm (22, 87), Gabarra (31, 55), Akers (38 pen., 45 pen.), Lilly (59, 79), Milbrett (82); Caron (41).

U.S. — Scurry, Overbeck, Hamilton (Staples, 73), Fawcett, Roberts (Manthei, 73), Foudy, Venturini, Lilly, Hamm, Akers (Milbrett, 46), Gabarra.

Canada — Chin, Wood, Ross (Neil, 64), Muir, Ring, O’Brien, Caron, Stoumbos, Donnelly, Kelly (Gerrior, 78), Hooper.

Att: 6,145.