Cindy Parlow scored two goals and set up another as the U.S. women's national team crushed Australia, 4-0, Wednesday night in Cary, N.C., for its second one-sided victory at the exhibition U.S. Women's Cup.

Parlow tallied in the 34th and 58th minutes and drew a penalty kick that Brandi Chastain converted in the 23rd for the Americans, who are in preparations for the Oct. 27-Nov. 9 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, the regional championship and qualifier for next year's fourth Women's World Cup.

Shannon MacMillan added a 74th-minute goal and the Americans had several more outstanding chances. The match was played before 2,661 at SAS Stadium.

The U.S. team showed vast improvement over its performance in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Russia in Uniondale, N.Y. The Americans were far sharper and dominated play in midfield, although Australia's defensive alignment made space scarce in the attacking third.

''It's difficult for these players who play 40 games and 11 months out of the year to get excited for every game,'' U.S. coach April Heinrichs said. ''Collectively, our team struggled mentally for the Russia game, and we all knew we had to be better tonight. You saw some dynamic, attacking, creative soccer. We created enough chances to win and scored some nice goals.''

The Americans got two bits of good fortune to take the lead on Chastain's second PK in as many games. Referee Riabel Trujillo questionably ruled that Australian defender Dianne Alagich, who plays for the WUSA's San Jose CyberRays, fouled Parlow near the top of the box. Alagich knocked the ball away as she made contact with Parlow in what appeared to be a clean tackle.

Chastain's spot kick beat diving goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri but struck the left post, bounced out and off Barbieri's right heel and dribbled over the goal line.

Parlow, who has three U.S. Cup goals, doubled the lead off a nifty sequence from Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly. Hamm dumped a short pass to the left side of the box for a streaking Lilly, whose low cross into the goalmouth was redirected home by Parlow.

The Atlanta Beat striker netted another 13 minutes into the second half from a Hamm corner kick that Joy Fawcett, stationed at the near post, headed into the middle. Parlow's volley ricocheted off Australia's Anissa Tann and crossed the goal line before Cheryl Salisbury, at the right post, could clear it out.

MacMillan tallied from a curling corner kick that Barbieri tried to punch over her crossbar but instead knocked into the goal. Initially ruled an own goal, the official scorer gave MacMillan credit, her 13th goal of the year.

Australia had one outstanding chance, in the ninth minute, but Danielle Slaton got in front of Joanne Peters' sliding shot.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Natalia Barbachina scored her second and third goals of the competition — the finale two minutes into stoppage time — as Russia rallied to beat Italy, 2-1. The Italians face the United States on Sunday in Cary.

U.S. WOMEN'S CUP
1. United States 2-0-0 9-1 6
2. Russia 1-1-0 3-6 3
3. Italy 0-1-0 1-2 0
4. Australia 0-1-0 0-4 0

Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Cary, N.C.

United States 4 Australia 0. Goals: Chastain pen. 22, Parlow 34, 58, MacMillan 74.

United States — Mullinix; Sobrero (Reddick, 62), Chastain, Fawcett, Slaton (Roberts, 68); Lilly, Fair, Foudy (Hucles, 62), Wagner (O'Reilly, 75); Hamm (MacMillan, 64), Parlow (Wambach, 64).

Australia — Barbieri; Alagich, Tann, Davies (Wainwright, 46), Thomson (Slayter, 85); Salisbury, Golebiowski (Wilson, 74), Hohnke (Garriock, 46), Peters; Karp (Hepperlin, 83), Mann (Thomas, 74).

Yellow cards — Australia: Salisbury 89.

Referee — Riabel Trujillo (U.S.). A — 2,661.

Other result

Russia 2 (Barbachina 62, 92+) Italy 1 (Guarino 28)

Remaining schedule
Oct. 6 at Cary, N.C.
Australia vs. Russia
United States vs. Italy

Oct. 9 at Cary, N.C.
Australia vs. Italy